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DOCUMENTS 
DEPT. 


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UNITED  STATES  TARIFF  COMMISSION 
WASHINGTON 


SHEEP  AND  WOO 
PRODUCTION   IN 
ARGENTINA 


WITH  SPECIAL  REFERENCE  TO  COST  OF 
PRODUCTION,  1918  AND  1919 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE 
1922 


UNITED  STATES  TARIFF  COMMISSION 
WASHINGTON 


SHEEP  AND  WOOL 

PRODUCTION   IN 

ARGENTINA 


WITH  SPECIAL  REFERENCE  TO  COST  OF 
PRODUCTION,  1918  AND  1919 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE 
1922 


UNITED  STATES  TARIFF  COMMISSION. 

Office:   Eighth  and  E  Streets  NW.,  Washington,  D.  C. 

COMMISSIONERS. 

THOMAS  O.  MARVIN,  Chairman. 

WILLIAM    S.    CULBERTSON,    Vice    Chairman. 

DAVID  J.  LEWIS. 

EDWARD  P.  COSTIGAN. 

THOMAS  WALKER  PAGE. 

WILLIAM  BURGESS. 

JOHN  F.  BETHUNE,  Secretary. 


ADDITIONAL  COPIES 

OF  THIS  PUBLICATION  MAY  BE  PROCURED  FROM 

THE  SUPERINTENDENT  OF  DOCUMENTS 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

AT 

5  CENTS  PER  COPY 


CONTENTS. 

"Page. 

Introduction 5 

General 7 

Flock  management 11 

Cost  of  production 12 

Appendix : 

Statistical  tables — 

Clean  yields  of  Argentine  wools,  by  provinces 27 

Price    of   Argentine    wools    to    ranchers,    according    to    district 

where  grown 28 

Number  of  sheep  in  Argentina,  1918 29 

Distribution  of  Argentine  wool  clip  by  provinces,  1914  and  1917 29 

Cost  of  shipment  of  certain  agricultural  commodities,  Argentina, 
1921— 

a.  Wool —  29 

6.  Flaxseed 30 

c.  Wheat 30 

d.  Oats , 30 

e.  Barley . 31 

f.  Corn 31 

(j.  Cattle , 31 

h.  Sheep ' 32 

i.  Swine 32 

Trend  of  wool  prices,  London,  1900  to  1921 33 

Wholesale  prices  per  pound  of  domestic  wools  in  Boston  market, 

1919-1922 33 

Comparison  of  clean  cost  at  Boston  of  foreign  and  domestic  wools, 

February,  1921,  and  February,  1922 35 

3 


INTRODUCTION. 


This  report  on  Sheep  and  Wool  Production  in  Argentina  with 
special  reference  to  cost  of  production  is  the  result  of  investigations 
made  by  a  special  agent  of  the  United  States  Tariff  Commission  in 
Argentina  in  the  summer  of  1921.  This  agent  observed  at  first  hand 
at  various  points  in  central  Argentina  the  conditions  surrounding 
the  sheep  industry,  and,  in  addition,  conferred  with  men,  particu- 
larly at  Buenos  Aires,  engaged  throughout  the  country  in  the  sheep 
industry,  both  as  producers  and  as  dealers.  They  are  believed  to 
be  the  persons  in  Argentina  best  qualified  to  form  reliable  opinions. 
The  Commission  has  confidence  in  the  methods  pursued  in  procuring 
information  in  Argentina,  but  must  state  that,  by  reason  of  the 
necessary  limitations  of  time  for  making  the  survey,  the  cost  figures 
presented  in  this  report  are  primarily  based  on  estimates.  The 
figures  are  not  taken  from  specific  ranch  records,  and  there  was  no 
opportunity  to  check  them  against  such  records.  Furthermore,  the 
extent  to  which  various  cost  increases  in  Argentina  in  recent  years 
have  been  due  either  to  temporary  or  to  permanent  causes  was  not 
determined.  It  follows  that  the  total  costs  given  do  not  warrant 
conclusive  deductions  in  comparing  cost  conditions  in  Argentina 
with  those  in  the  United  States.  Any  use  of  these  figures  should 
be  made  with  these  qualifications  in  mind. 


In  the  preparation  of  this  report  the  Tariff  Commission  had  the 
services  of  Louis  G.  Connor  of  the  Agricultural  Division  of  the  Com- 
mission's staff,  and  of  others. 

5 


SHEEP  AND  WOOL  PRODUCTION  IN  ARGENTINA,  WITH  SPECIAL 
REFERENCE  TO  COST  OF  PRODUCTION,  1918-1919.     . 


GENERAL. 

Prior  to  about  1900,  cattle  and  sheep  raising  were  by  far  the 
chief  industries  throughout  Argentina.  They  remain  almost  the 
sole  activities  in  the  semiarid  regions  which  lie  west  and  south  of 
the  humid  northeastern  area.  In  the  latter  section,  which  is  the 
present  and  the  future  agricultural  region,1  live  stock  has  met  with 
sharp  competition  from  crop  production  during  the  past  25  years. 
These  industries  now  vie  with  each  other  in  importance  in  that 
part  of  the  country,  though  a  rapid  growth  there  of  acreage  in 
alfalfa  has  enabled  beef  cattle  to  compete  with  grain  production 
on  very  favorable  terms.  The  keeping  of  sheep,  less  profitable  on 
alfalfa  pastures  than  cattle,  has  steadily  declined  in  that  section 
of  Argentina. 

The  following  tabulation  shows  the  rapid  development  of  Argen- 
tine grain  growing  since  1895.  This  has  occurred  almost  exclusively 
in  the  northeast,  as  has  the  more  rapid  change  from  natural  grass 
pastures  to  alfalfa  for  cattle  production.  In  addition,  the  changes 
in  numbers  of  meat  animals  are  presented.  The_pronounced  drop 
in  number  of  sheep  jias  resulted  very  largely  from  declines  which 
occurred  in  the  devejUiping  agricultural  region.  The  increase  in 
cattle  up  to  1908  resulted  mainly  from  extensions  in  northern  and 
central  areas  previously  less  fully  utilized.  The  decline  in  cattle 
following  1908  has  been  largely  confined  to  the  humid  section.  It 
occurred  coincident  with  a  pronounced  gain  in  quality  of  beef.  At 
the  same  time  curtailment  of  the  age  to  which  animals  were  kept 
before  sale  for  slaughter  resulted  in  a  larger  production  of  beef. 

TABLE  1. — Changes  in  cropped  area  and  in  live  stock. 

a.  AREA  IN  PRINCIPAL  CROPS. 
[Hectares'1  000  omitted.] 


Year. 

Wheat. 

Corn. 

Linseed. 

Oats. 

Alfalfa. 

1895-96 

2,260 

1.244 

387 

713 

1905-6         .             

5,675 

2,177 

1,023 

72 

2,984 

1913-14                                                -                  

6,  574 

4,152 

1,779 

1,249 

6,600 

1918-19 

6,870 

3,340 

1  384 

1,206 

8,073 

a  A  hectare  contains  2.471  acres,  or  approximately  2.5  acres. 

1  Aside  from  irrigation  developments.  The  humid  region  extends  west  and  north  of  the 
Province  of  Buenos  Aires,  and  comprises  Buenos  Aires,  La  Pampa,  Sante  Fe,  Cordova, 
Entre  Rios,  Corrientes,  and  a  few  subtropical  divisions  in  the  extreme  north. 

7 


SHEEP   AND   WOOL   PRODUCTION    IX   ARGENTINA. 
TABLE  1. — Changes  in  cropped  area  and  in  live  stock — Continued. 

6.  ARGENTINE  LIVE  STOCK. 
[Number;  000  omitted.] 


Year. 

Cattle. 

Sheep. 

Hogs. 

1895 

21.  702 

74,380 

1908                                                                                               

29,117 

67,  212 

1,404 

1914 

25,867 

43,  225 

2,901 

1918                                                             

27,  053 

44,  855 

3,260 

Sheep  kept  mainly  for  wool  could  not  compete  with  cattle  or  grain 
in  northeastern  Argentina  and  declined  rapidly  after  1900,  particu- 
larly after  1908.  In  the  latter  year  more  than  one-half  of  the  Argen- 
tine total — 67,211,754  head — were  in  the  Provinqe  of  Buenos  Aires. 
In  1914  less  than  45  per  cent  of  the  total  of  43,225,452  sheep  were  in 
that  Province.  The  reported  number  of  sheep  in  the  country  declined 
36  per  cent  in  those  six  years,  but  in  this  Province  the  decrease 
amounted  to  practically  50  per  cent  and  comprised  two-thirds  of  the 
total  loss  in  numbers.  The  bulk  of  the  remainder  of  the  decline 
occurred  in  the  humid  region. 

Coincident  with  this  decline  there  was  a  steady  adoption  of  cross- 
breeding ;  by  1914  merinos  had  been  virtually  abandoned  in  favor  of 
mutton  types  in  northeastern  Argentina.  At  first  Down  rams  vied 
with  longwools  in  the  crossing,  but  longwools,  chiefly  Lincolns,  prac- 
tically supplanted  the  Downs  in  a  short  time.  Much  heavier  fleeces 
were  grown  by  the  crossbred  sheep  than  by  the  merinos.  Owing  to 
the  larger  percentage  of  lambs  raised  and  to  the  readiness  of  the 
crossbreds  for  market  as  yearlings  instead  of  as  two-year-olds  or 
older,  the  production  of  mutton  per  breeding  ewe  also  was  greatly 
increased.  These  two  factors  have  enabled  sheep  to  persist  in  large 
numbers  in  the  rich  northeastern  region.  In  the  years  just  before  the 
war,  receipts  from  sales  of  mutton  had  become  as  important  as  from 
sales  of  wool  in  the  Province  of  Buenos  Aires.  In  semiarid  regions 
sheep  were  able  to  hold  their  place;  merinos  usually  persisted  be- 
cause of  distance  from  market  and  because  they  were  relied  upon 
mainly  for  wool.  Wool  was  about  twice  as  important  in  total  flock 
receipts  as  sales  of  mutton  in  the  years  just  preceding  the  war.  In 
the  merino  region  cattle  usually  can  not  compete  with  sheep,  except 
locally,  and  crop  production  is  not  practicable  without  irrigation. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  so  far  as  grazing  requirements  are  concerned, 
the  large  coarse  crossbreds  which  now  predominate  in  the  Province  of 
Buenos  Aires  require  at  least  a  third  more  feed  and  shear  about  a 
third  more  wool  than  the  merinos  formerly  kept.  The  average  weight 
of  fleece  in  Buenos  Aires  has  increased  by  two  pounds  per  head  dur- 
jng  the  past  15  years.  The  crossbred  lambs  at  one  year  of  age  Aveigh 
as  much  as  the  two-year-old  merinos  formerly  disposed  of  for 


SHEEP   AND   WOOL  PRODUCTION   IN   ARGENTINA.  9 

slaughter.  Since  more  wool  and  much  more  mutton  are  produced  per 
head  from  these  crossbreds,  the  real  decline  in  sheep  husbandry  has 
been  less  than  statistics  indicate.  The  average  annual  wool  produc- 
tion in  this  Province  for  the  5  years  ended  in  1909  was  only  23 
pei'  cent  larger  than  the  average  for  the  5  years  ended  in  1916, 
Although  the  reported  number  of  sheep  in  1908  was  more  than  50 
per  cent  larger  than  in  1914.  Exports  of  mutton  have  remained 
fairly  constant  during  the  past  two  decades  despite  the  pronounced 
drop  in  number  of  sheep. 

At  the  present  time,  aside  from  occasional  stud  flocks,  there  are 
virtually  no  merinos  in  the  Province  of  Buenos  Aires,  where  over  40 
per  cent  of  the  Argentine  sheep  are  located.  The  few  finewools 
which  are  shorn  in  this  Province  are  sent  on  mainly  from  Patagonian 
territories  for  fattening.  In  Corrientes  and  Entre  Rios,  to  the  north, 
and  Santa  Cruz,  in  the  south,  probably  12J  to  13  per  cent  are  merinos ; 
in  La  Pampa,  probably  25  per  cent.  In  Chubut  and  Rio  Negro, 
where  semiarid  ranges  prevail,  about  70  per  cent  of  the  sheep  are 
finewools,  and  most  of  the  remainder  shear  wool  which  grades  as 
half-blood  in  the  United  States.  In  Tierra  del  Fuego  merinos  are 
practically  unknown.  In  other  provinces  and  territories  sheep  are 
present  in  relatively  small  numbers  and  often  are  poor  in  quality  of 
fleece  and  carcass;  in  fact,  unimproved  or  only  partly  improved 
native  or  "  criolla  "  types  predominate. 

The  outlook  for  possible  expansion  in  sheep  and  wool  production 
seems  somewhat  less  favorable  than  in  the  case  of  cattle.  The  num- 
ber of  the  latter  probably  will  increase  more  or  less  steadily  after 
a  comparatively  short  period  of  readjustment.  But  the  1921-22  wool 
clip  is  estimated  at  less  than  290,000,000  pounds,  or  about  15  per  cent 
smaller  than  for  several  years  previously.  This  decline  is  the  result 
of  the  low  prices  for  sheep  and  wool  since  the  autumn  of  1920.  It  is 
probably  only  a  temporary  decrease.  However,  until  war-time 
increases  are  liquidated  and  the  world  wool  market  returns  to 
normal,  there  seems  small  reason  to  look  for  an  extension  in  sheep 
raising  in  Argentina.  This  normal  condition  in  the  wool  market 
promises  to  be  slow  of  realization.  In  farm  flocks,  however,  the  year- 
long grazing  season  and  occasional  use  of  roughage  to  supplement 
short  pastures  should  permit  production  at  a  maximum  of  profit. 

The  industry  can  expand  considerably  in  subhumid  regions;  in  fact,  y£ 
it  is  only  in  such  territory  that  any  considerable  future  increase  may  v 
reasonably  be  expected.     However,  a  large  part  of  the  more  desirable 
land  in  semiarid  areas  is  already  stocked  to  capacity  under  existing 
systems  of  management.     Considerable,  though  more  or  less  local, 
increase  in  carrying  capacity  should  result  from  development  of  irri- 
gation projects  and  winter  feeding  with  hay  thus  produced.     But 
such  a  system  would  be  limited  in  its  scope,  since  transportation 
91151—22 — —2 


10  SHEEP   AND   WOOL   PRODUCTION   IN   ARGENTINA. 

facilities  are  lacking  for  getting  the  feed  to  the  sheep.  Some  time  in 
the  future  there  probably  will  be  a  considerable  use  made  of  hay  and 
grain  for  winter  fattening  of  sheep  in  the  vicinity  of  irrigation 
developments,  but  the  world's  market  for  mutton  must  expand  very 
greatly  before  such  a  practice  can  compete  with  winter-grazed  sheep 
in  the  humid  region.  On  the  whole  it  is  probably  safe  to  anticipate  a 
gradual  decline  in  sheep  in  the  agricultural  region  as  more  land  is 
seeded  to  alfalfa  for  cattle,  or  is  sold  to  farmers  for  permanent  with- 
drawal from  purely  pastoral  uses.  Farm  flocks  should  become  more 
numerous,  but  can  for  some  time  hardly  be  expected  to  offset  declines 
in  numerous  large  flocks  now  kept  on  unimproved  or  only  partly  im- 
proved grazing  lands.  After  a  time  gradual  increases  may  be  looked 
for  in  subhumid  areas,  but  such  increases  probably  will  no  more  than 
offset  decreases  in  the  humid  northeastern  region. 

Table  2  presents  a  brief  summary  of  the  results  of  the  inquiry  into 
and  the  estimates  of  Argentine  costs.  In  different  regions  of  Argen- 
tina there  is  a  wide  variation  from  the  average  percentage  incurred 
for  labor;  it  varied  from  46  per  cent  on  unfenced,  State-owned  ranges 
in  Chubut  down  to  20  per  cent  for  farm  flocks  in  Buenos  Aires. 
There  was  no  expense  for  feed  in  Argentina.  This  is  an  outstanding 
advantage  possessed  by  Argentine  sheepmen,  as  is  the  lower  labor 
cost  per  head  of  sheep.  The  high  percentage  charged  to  interest  and 
rentals  in  Argentina  results  from  the  almost  exclusive  use  of  fenced 
ranges.  The  fact  that  sheep  are  kept  on  fenced  land*  is  a  major 
factor  in  making  the  labor  bill  per  head  so  low.  In  the  different 
regions  this  land  rental  and  interest  charge  varies  widely;  from 
nearly  54  per  cent  for  farm  flocks  in  Buenos  Aires  down  to  16  per 
cent  on  unfenced  State  lands  in  Chubut. 

TABLE  2. — Summary  of  estimated  costs  of  producing  wool  and  mutton,  in  Argen- 
tina,2 1917-18  and  1918-19. 

[Argentine  costs  are  coverted  into  United  States  money  at  par  exchange.] 

Sheep  investment  per  head $4.  84 

Total  receipts  per  head _  $4.  55 

Per  cent  of  receipts  from  wool 70 

Per  cent  of  receipts  from  mutton 30 

Expenses  per  head i. $.  04 

To  labor,  per  cent . 32.  96 

To   feed 

To  interest  and  rentals,  per  cent 39.  68 

Profit  per  head $1.51 

2  Including  land  rental  and  interest  on  total  investment  in  sheep.  (See  introductory 
note.)  Joint  expenses  are  allocated  to  wool  and  mutton  in  proportion  to  the  receipts, 
respectively,  from  these  two  sources ;  namely,  an  average  of  70  per  cent  for  wool  and 
30  per  cent  for  mutton  in  Argentina.  For  a  discussion  of  such  cost  accounting  in  the 
United  States,  with  an  allocation  of  46  to  48  per  cent  to  wool  and  52  to  54  per  cent  to 
mutton,  see  Table  29,  and  pp.  213,  214,  The  Wool-Growing  Industry,  United  States  Tariff 
Commission,  1921. 


SHEEP    AND   WOOL   PRODUCTION    IN    AKCKXTI  NA.  11 

Wool  per  pound  : 

Receipts S<».  :;s:; 

Expenses -  $0.273 

Front—  .SO.  110 

Mutton  per  head  in  flock : 

Receipts -3  $1.  37 

Expenses -  $0.  71 

Profit —  $0.  GO 

FLOCK  MANAGEMENT. 

There  are  three  general  methods  of  sheep  management  in  Argen- 
tina. In  the  first,  which  prevails  from  northern  Santa  Cruz  to  the 
River  Colorado,  merino  sheep  are  kept  almost  exclusively.  Lambs  are 
generally  retained  until  2  or  2J  years  of  age  before  being  sold,  i.  e., 
two  fleeces  are  removed.  As  a  rule  few  but  wethers  are  sold,  since 
occasional  heavy  losses  require  the  retention  of  nearly  all  the  ewe 
lambs  for  flock  maintenance.  Old  ewes  are  sold  in  relatively  small 
numbers  if  seasonal  losses  and  estancia  (ranch)  needs  for  meat  have 
not  caused  their  death  or  slaughter.  Some  of  the  sheep  sold  from 
Patagonian  and  more  northern  estancias  are  grazed  for  a  time  on 
the  richer  pastures  of  Buenos  Aires  to  get  them  into  better  condition 
for  slaughter.  This  system  corresponds  fairly  closely  to  that  used 
on  the  American  ranges  30  years  ago,  and  is  necessitated  by  the  char- 
acter of  the  range  and  distance  from  market. 

In  this  finewool  region  the  range  is  composed  mainly  of  shrub 
growth.  In  fact,  grass  is  rarely  seen  except  in  occasional  areas  where 
water  seeps  from  higher  ground,  or  in  a  few  coastal  areas,  or  in  val- 
leys along  the  Andes.  The  last-named  areas  are  used  almost  entirely 
for  cattle.  The  carrying  capacity  varies  considerably,  ranging  from 
about  5  to  10  acres  per  head  for  finewools,  and  averaging  approxi- 
mately 6J  acres.  The  country  presents  a  few  striking  topographical 
differences,  but  is  fairly  well  supplied  with  sheltered  valleys  which 
give  winter  protection  from  wind  and  snow;  though  there  are  some 
extensive  ridge  lands  so  open  to  the  high  winds  that  winter  grazing  is 
out  of  the  question.  In  a  few  areas  on  or  near  the  coast  crossbreds  are 
run  on  land  which  will  carry  one  of  these  larger  sheep  on  4  or  5 
acres,  but  such  are  the  exception  until  southeastern  Chubut  is  reached. 
Most  of  the  land  used  in  this  region  is  fenced. 

The  second  system  is  based  on  crossing  longwool  rams,  mainly 
Lincolns  and  Romneys,  on  a  merino  (Rambouillet)  eAve  or  on  female 
offspring  from  earlier  cross-breeding.  This  prevails  from  Tierra 
del  Fuego  to  northern  Santa  Cruz  and  locally  in  more  favorable 
areas  which  lie  within  the  great  Patagonian  finewool  region.  It  is 
the  general  practice  throughout  the  fertile,  well-watered  Province 

3  Based  on  sales  made  at  ranch. 


12  SHEEP   AXD   WOOL   PRODUCTION    IX   ARGENTINA. 

of  Buenos  Aires,  is  largely  followed  in  Entre  Rios  and  Corrientes, 
and  is  the  more  common  system  in  La  Pampa.  In  the  south  Romney 
blood  is  the  rule :  in  the  north  Lincolns  are  mainly  used.  Under  this 
system  the  lambs  are  retained  until  the  first  fleece  is  shorn,  they  are 
thtMi  sold  as  long  yearlings  for  slaughter.  This  general  system. 
\vhich  applies  to  probably  80  per  cent  of  the  Argentine  flocks,  cor- 
responds fairly  closely  to  the  prevailing  methods  in  cross-breeding 
areas  of  the  Middle  West  50  years  ago,  and  to  more  recent  range 
practice  soon  after  the  American  sheepmen  adopted  cross-breeding 
in  the  Far  West. 

In  this  system  the  crossbreds  are  usually  kept  on  much  better  land 
than  is  found  in  the  merino  region,  though  nearness  to  market  or 
freezing  plants  is  of  more  importance  in  northern  Santa  Cruz  and 
southeastern  Chubut  than  is  the  character  of  the  range.  In  much 
of  the  Deseado  section  the  carrying  capacity  is  little  better  than 
in  most  of  Chubut.  The  medium  and  fine  crossbreds  which  are  kept 
riMjiiire  25  per  cent  more  feed,  hence  from  7  to  9  acres  are  needed 
to  support  a  sheep.  Passing  southward  from  the  Deseado,  how- 
ever, the  shrubs  steadily  give  way  to  grasses.  Between  the  Santa 
Cruz  and  Gallegos  Rivers  about  5  acres  suffice,  while  in  the  Punta 
Arenas  area  3  acres  are  sufficient.  In  Tierra  del  Fuego  about  2^ 
acres  carry  a  sheep  throughout  the  year.  In  a  large  part  of  La 
Pampa,  to  the  north  of  the  merino  region,  4  to  6  acres  are  required 
for  crossbreds  on  natural  grazing.  In  the  humid  section  sheep  usu- 
ally are  run  in  connection  with  cattle,  and  the  rate  of  stocking  varies 
accordingly. 

Under  the  third  method  of  management  crossbred  lambs  are  sold 
for  slaughter  at  about  six  to  eight  months  of  age.  These  are  high- 
grade  Lincolns.  This  system  is  beginning  to  be  followed  in  Buenos 
Aires  but  is  virtually  unknown  elsewhere.  It  is  limited  largely  to 
farms  and  the  smaller  ranches,  and  does  not  apply  to  over  10  per- 
cent of  the  Buenos  Aires  flocks.  It  corresponds  to  prevailing  prac- 
tice in  the  range  region  of  the  United  States  and  throughout  the 
rest  of  the  country  outside  of  the  early  lamb  section  and  the  finewool 
region  of  the  Upper  Ohio  Valley.4 

COST  OF  PRODUCTION. 

Fairly  representative  data  of  cost  of  production  per  head  were 
secured  for  the  different  systems  of  management  from  a  number  of 
producers  with  long  experience  in  the  business.  Most  of  these  were 
sheepmen  who  were  also  wool  dealers  or  sheep  buyers,  or  both,  and 
we iv  especially  well  fitted  to  give  accurate  information.  The  data 
they  furnished  were  based  on  typical  conditions  and  prevailing 

1  s-v  The  Wool-Grovring-  Industry,  U.  S.  Tariff  Commission,  1921,  chs.  4  to  9. 


SHEEP    AXI)    WOOL,   PRODUCTION     IN    AUCKXTI  N  A.  13 

practices,  with  actual  figures  for  some  important  items  of  expense; 
they  are  believed  to  be  a  better  illustration  of  the  cost  of  wool  pro- 
duction than  complete  cost  data  from  a  few  individual  ranches. 
However,  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that,  in  the  main,  the  figures  pre- 
sented in  Table  3  are  only  estimates.  Owing  to  practical  difficulties, 
a  few  small  items  of  income,  relatively  unimportant  in  the  total, 
Avert1  neglected  as  offsetting  items  of  expense  of  equally  small 
moment.  The  Argentine  data  apply  to.  the  years  1917-18  to  1918-19, 
inclusive,  and  so  far  as  costs  are  concerned,  to  1919-20  as  well. 
Since  that  time  costs  have  decreased  somewhat;  the  average  price 
of  wools,  as  will  be  noted  in  Table  5,  in  the  appendix,  has  been 
considerably  more  than  halved. 


14 


SHEEP  AND  WOOL  PRODUCTION  IN  ARGENTINA. 


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16  SHEEP   AND   WOOL  PRODUCTION   IN   ARGENTINA. 

1  Including  Neuquen  and  part  of  northwestern  Santa  Cruz. 

2  Including  some  areas,  mainly  coastal,  in  Chubut. 

3  Eastern  La  Pampa,  part  of  southwestern  and  southern  Buenos  Aires,  and  southern  Cordova  and 
Santa  Fe. 

4  Corrientes  and  Entre  Rios. 


5  75  per  cent  lambs  weaned,  sold  as  yearlings. 

6  75  per  cent  lambs  weaned,  but  sold  as  lambs  at  6  to  8  months  old. 


7  Careless  management,  40  per  cent  lambs  weaned,  sold  at  6  to  8  months.    Much  scabby  and  burry 
wool. 
s  7  herders,  2  foremen,  4  laborers,  1  manager. 

9  5  herders,  4  laborers,  1  foreman,  1  manager. 

10  4  herders,  4 laborers,  1  manager,  1  foreman. 

11  5  herders,  4  laborers,  1  manager,  1  foreman. 

12  6  herders,  1  foreman,  4  laborers,  1  manager. 

13  3  herders,  2  laborers ,.l  foreman  (half  time),  1  manager  (half  time). 

14 1  herder,  1  laborer  (half  time),  1  foreman  (fourth  time),  1  manager  (fourth  time), 
is  Farm  flock  of  500  breeding  ewes  cared  for  incidental  to  other  work. 
16  Rental  of  20  cents  per  head  per  sheep  paid  to  State. 

"  Rental  at  6  per  cent  on  10-peso  valuation  per  head  whether  land  is  owned  or  leased  from  private 
owners. 

is  Rental  at  25  centavos  per  sheep  per  year  paid  to  State. 
19  Rental  at  6  per  cent  on  12^-peso  valuation  per  head. 
2°  Rental  at  2,250  pesos  per  league  with  carrying  capacity  for  1,200  to  1,300  sheep  per  league  (8  leagues). 

21  Rental  at  2J  pesos  per  year  per  sheep  shorn  (9,600). 

22  Rental  at  3  pesos  per  sheep  shorn  (5,025). 

23  Rental  at  3  pesos  per  sheep  shorn  (1,800). 

24  Rental  at  3  pesos  per  sheep  shorn  (590). 
25 10  per  cent  on  investment  of  20,000  pesos. 
26 10  per  cent  on  investment  of  100,000  pesos. 

27  6  per  cent  on  6,500  ewes,  at  9  pesos;  3,250  lambs,  at  3  pesos;  2,925  yearlings,  at  6  pesos;  and  200  bucks,  at 
50  pesos. 

28  6  per  cent  on  6,000  ewes,  at  9i  pesos;  3,600  lambs,  at  3  pesos:  3,240  yearlings,  at  6  pesos;  200  bucks,  at  £0 


29  6  per  cent  on  6,000  ewes,  at  10  pesos;  4,000  lambs,  at  4%  pesos;  200  bucks,  at  50  pesos, 
so  6  per  cent  on  6,000  ewes,  at  10  pesos:  4,200  lambs,  at  5  pesos;  200  bucks,  at  50  pesos, 
si  6  per  cent  on  6,000  ewes,  at  10  pesos;  4,000  lambs,  at  5  pesos;  200  bucks,  at  50  pesos. 

32  6  per  cent  on  3,000  ewes,  at  12  pesos;  2,250  lanibs,  at  7  pesos;  90  rams,  at  50  pesos. 

33  6  per  cent  on  1,500  ewes,  at  12  pesos;  300  yearlings,  at  10  pesos:  45  bucks,  at  50  pesos. 

34  6  per  cent  on  500  ewes,  at  11  pesos;  100  lambs,  at  5  pesos;  and  15  bucks,  at  40  pesos. 

36  12,160  fleeces. 
SB  9,600  fleeces. 

37  9,780  fleeces. 
&  9,600  fleeces. 
3»  5,025  fleeces. 
4°  1,800  fleeces. 


42 12,160  fleeces  of  3  kilos— 36,480  kilos,  at  17  pesos  per  10  kilos. 

43 12,160  fleeces  of  3^  kilos— 40,530  kilos,  at  17  pesos  per  10  kilos. 

44  9,600  fleeces  of  4  kilos— 38,400  kilos  sold,  at  19  pesos  per  10  kilos.  • 

«  9,780  fleeces  of  4  kilos— 39,120  kilos  sold,  at  20  pesos  per  10  kilos. 

46  9,600  fleeces  of  3  kilos— 2,880  kilos  of  wool  sold,  at  25  pesos  per  10  kilos. 

47  5,025  fleeces  of  41  kilos— 21,356  kilos  sold,  at  20  pesos  per  10  kilos. 

«s  1,800  fleeces  of  4i  kilos— 7,650  kilos  of  wool  sold,  at  20  pesos  per  10  kilos. 

4»  590  fleeces  of  4  kilos— 2,360  kilos  sold,  at  16  pesos  per  10  kilos. 

so  1,270  2-year-olds,  at  8  pesos. 

51 1,600  2-year-olds,  at  8  pesos:  850  old  ewes,  at  4  pesos. 

52  2,140  yearlings,  at  8  pesos,  and  850  old  ewes,  at  4£  pesos. 

53  2,320  yearlings,  at  9  pesos,  and  860  ewes,  at  5  pesos. 
&4  2,140  yearlings,  at  10  pesos;  860  ewes,  at  5  pesos. 

55 1,300  yearlings,  at  12  pesos;  430  ewes,  at  6  pesos. 

56  795  lambs,  at  9  pesos;  200  ewes,  at  6  pesos. 

«  100  lambs,  at  8  pesos;  20  ewes,  at  5  pesos. 

&8  Distribution  of  clip.  Buenos  Aires  system  No.  1,  35  per  cent;  system  No.  2,  7  per  cent;  system  No. 
3,  3  per  cent;  Corrientes  region,  11  per  cent;  Pampa  region,  12  per  cent;  Santa  Cruz  region,  13  per  cent: 
Chubut  (fenced),  9  per  cent,  (unfenced),  2  per  cent.  Fenced  State  lands  in  Chubut  and  Santa  Crux 
are  given  twice  the  weight  of  fenced  lands  owned  by  sheepmen.  The  remainder  of  the  Argentine  clip  con- 
sists mainly  of  unimproved  or  only  partly  improved  wools,  mainly  of  Criolla  and  Mestiza  (carpet)  grades. 


SHEEP  AND   WOOL  PRODUCTION    IN   ARGENTINA.  17 

In  the  first  column  of  Table  3  are  shown  cost  data  for  a  type  of 
management  found  in  some  parts  of  Chubut,  where  all  or  virtually 
all  the  land  is  leased  from  the  Government.  The  producer  has  very 
limited  capital  invested  in  permanent  improvements- — dipping  vat, 
small  paddocks,  shearing  corral,  and  a  few  small  buildings.  The 
sheep  are  run  almost  entirely  on  unfenced  range,  which  is  leased 
for  about  20  cents  per  year  per  sheep.  For  6,500  breeding  ewes  and 
their  progeny — a  total  of  slightly  over  12,000  head — 11  herders  and 
laborers  and  2  foremen  are  needed.  The  herders  and  laborers  aver- 
aged approximately  100  pesos  (paper)  per  month  in  wages  and 
provisions  during  the  latter  years  of  the  war  period.  Meat  furnished 
is  not  included,  as  the  flock  receipts  are  curtailed  in  proportion  to 
the  number  of  animals  eaten.  The  foremen's  wages  average  ap- 
proximately 220  pesos;  a  good  manager  receives  600  to  1,200  pesos 
per  month,  according  to  the  number  of  sheep  kept.  With  about  6,000 
breeding  ewes  his  salary  should  amount  to  about  800  pesos  monthly. 
Improvements  are  reckoned  to  be  worth  20,000  pesos,  and  interest, 
depreciation,  and  repairs  are  charged  at  the  rate  of  10  per  cent  per 
annum. 

In  column  2,  which  represents  Chubut  wool  growing  on  leased 
land  which  has  been  fenced,  the  rate  of  wages  is  the  same,  but 
about  nine  herders  and  laborers  and  one  foreman  care  for  the  same 
number  of  sheep  under  the  supervision  of  a  capable  manager.  The 
investment  in  fences,  etc.,  amounts  to  approximately  100,000  pesos. 
Ten  per  cent  is  charged  for  interest,  depreciation,  and  repairs.  In 
column  3,  where  the  land  is  owned  and  fenced,  the  cost  of  labor  is 
the  same  as  in  the  second  case,  the  same  charge  is  made  for  improve- 
ments, etc.,  and  land  rent  is  charged  at  6  per  cent  on  an  investment 
of  10  pesos  per  head  for  12,000  sheep.  The  chief  difference  in 
charges  direct  to  wool  in  columns  1  to  3  is  the  increase  for  market- 
ing the  slightly  heavier  clip  from  sheep  on  fenced  range.  The  com- 
mission for  selling  is  charged  at  2  per  cent  of  the  gross  value,  the 
average  rate  actually  paid.  Joint  expenses  are  allocated  to  wrool 
and  mutton  in  proportion  to  their  importance  in  total  receipts. 

On  fenced  ranges  the  wool  clip  averages  3^  kilograms  (7.3 
pounds),  as  against  3  kilograms  (6.6  pounds)  on  unfenced  range. 
Then,  too,  on  fenced  ranges  60  lambs  are  weaned  per  100  ewes,  as 
compared  with  50  where  the  land  is  not  fenced.  This  difference  in 
lambs  weaned  is  very  important,  since  it  results  in  a  larger  income 
per  sheep  shorn ;  through  allocation  of  expenses  it  also  gives  a  lower 
charge  per  pound  of  wool.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  shepherds  on  the 
open  range  usually  raise  a  few  more  ewe  lambs  than  are  necessary  to 
maintain  the  flock.  After  a  year  with  unusual  losses  they  experience 
much  difficulty  in  quickly  restoring  the  ewe  bands  to  normal  unless 
91151—22 3 


18  SHEEP   AND   WOOL   PRODUCTION   IN   ARGENTINA. 

animals  can  be  purchased  from  other  sheepmen.  Aside  from  excep- 
tional years,  their  annual  losses  from  disease,  exposure,  estancia 
slaughter,  average  12J  per  cent  as  against  10  per  cent  on  fenced 
range. 

Over  a  series  of  years,  with  no  unusual  losses  to  recuperate  from, 
6,500  ewes  of  breeding  age  on  unfenced  range  permit  annual  sales 
of  1,250  to  1,300  two-year  olds  and  practically  no  old  ewes.  On 
fenced  range  6,000  ewes  of  breeding  age  permit  annual  sales  of  about 
1,600  two-year  olds  and  850  old  ewes.  In  normal  years  the  latter 
usually  bring  about  one-third  to  two-fifths  of  their  value  as  two- 
year  olds.  During  the  years  which  this  table  covers  these  ewes  sold 
to  itinerant  buyers  for  an  average  of  4  pesos  per  head  as  against  8 
pesos  for  two-year  old  wethers.  Two-year  old  ewes  sold  or  retained 
for  breeding  purposes  were  valued  at  10  pesos  each. 

Total  expenses  were  smaller  on  unfenced  than  on  fenced  ranges, 
but  receipts  also  were  less,  and  therefore  there  was  a  smaller  net 
profit  on  the  flock.  The  same  was  true  per  head  of  sheep  shorn.  On 
fenced  land  leased  from  the  State  the  profit  per  head  is  larger  than 
when  the  land  is  owned  by  the  operator,  but  this  results  from  the 
cheap  rental  offered  by  the  Government  to  foster  settlement.  Owing 
to  the  low  lambing  percentage,  receipts  from  wool  form  a  larger  pro- 
portion of  total  flock  receipts  on  unfenced  range — 81.8  per  cent  in 
column  1  as  against  77.3  per  cent  in  columns  2  and  3.  This  fact,  in 
connection  with  the  slightly  lighter  clip  per  head,  makes  the  charge 
per  pound  higher  in  column  1,  27.6  cents  (American  gold), as  against 
24.8  cents  in  column  2  and  26.9  cents  in  column  3.  On  a  number  of 
individual  ranches  in  this  area,  much  wider  differences  would  be 
found  from  ranch  to  ranch,  but  these  typical  figures  are  believed  to 
give  a  fairly  accurate  measure  of  conditions  during  the  war  years. 

Columns  4  and  5  present  typical  cost  data  for  crossbred  flocks  in 
northern  Santa  Cruz  and  southeastern  Chubut.  In  this  area  the 
flocks  are  run  almost  entirely  on  fenced  land,  much  of  which  is  leased 
from  the  State.  About  67  per  cent  of  lambs  are  weaned  to  each  100 
ewes;  losses  total  about  10  per  cent  per  year,  and  the  surplus  lambs 
are  sold  as  yearlings  instead  of  as  two-year-olds.  The  total  number 
of  sheep  in  a  flock  based  on  6,000  ewes  therefore  is  but  slightly  over 
three-fourths  as  large  as  in  the  finewool  region.  This  permits  a  small 
saving  in  the  charge  for  labor,  since  a  good  manager  can  dispense 
with  the  services  of  one  helper.  Owing  to  the  smaller  number  of 
sheep  inventoried  after  sales  are  made  in  the  fall  there  is  a  slight 
difference  in  interest  charges  on  sheep  investment,  but  the  larger 
grazing  requirements  of  these  crossbreds  prevent  any  saving  on 
land  rental.  The  smaller  number  of  fleeces  results  in  a  smaller  shear- 
ing and  shipping  expense.  Total  flock  expenses,  therefore,  are  some- 
what less  than  in  columns  1  to  3,  but  expense  per  head  of  sheep  shorn 
is  considerably  more. 


SHEEP  AND   WOOL  PRODUCTION   IN   ARGENTINA.  19 

Increased  receipts  more  than  offset  the  greater  expense  per  head. 
Twenty  per  cent  more  sheep  are  sold  each  year  than  from  fenced 
Chubut  range ;  owing  to  the  heavier  crossbred  fleeces  nearly  as  much 
wool  is  shorn  from  the  flocks  as  from  the  larger  flock  of  finewools. 
Then,  too,  these  fleeces  sold  for  considerably  more  per  pound  than  the 
heavier  shrinking  merino  wool.  The  net  profit  per  head  of  sheep 
shorn  is  more  than  twice  as  large  as  in  the  case  of  merinos.  However, 
there  is  little  difference  in  cost  per  pound  of  wool.  The  higher  price 
of  wool  per  pound  makes  wool  receipts  slightly  more  important  in 
total  flock  receipts  than  on  fenced  range  in  Chubut;  this  requires 
charging  to  wool  a  larger  percentage  of  the  joint  operating  expenses. 
The  result  is  that  the  charge  per  pound  against  wool  averages  only 
about  one-half  cent  less  than  on  fenced  merino  ranches.  The  profit 
per  pound  is  over  50  per  cent  larger. 

Column  6  presents  cost  data  on  crossbred  flocks  in  the  La  Pampa 
section,  north  of  the  merino  region.  Owing  to  the  milder  climate, 
TO  per  cent  of  lambs  are  weaned  per  100  breeding  ewes,  and  a  few 
more  fleeces  are  shorn  from  a  flock  based  on  6,000  ewes.  In  this  sec- 
tion herders  look  after  1,500  ewes  or  about  2,000  other  sheep  as 
against  about  2,000  ewes  or  3,000  other  sheep  on  fenced  range  to  the 
south.  The  charge  for  labor  and  superintendence  for  6,000  ewes  and 
their  progeny  is  therefore  somewhat  larger  than  in  Santa  Cruz. 
Land  rental  is  slightly  higher,  since  fenced  range  which  will  carry 
1,000  to  1,500  animals  per  league  (about  6,200  acres)  is  rented  in 
blocks  of  2  to  12  leagues  at  2,000  to  2,500  pesos5  per  league,  or 
about  80  cents  (United  States  currency)  per  year  per  sheep.  The 
saving  in  shipping  charges  for  wool  about  offsets  the  increased 
charge  for  labor. 

Receipts  from  sale  of  sheep  are  considerably  larger  than  in  Santa 
Cruz,  partly  because  of  an  increase  in  number  per  100  ewes,  and 
partly  because  of  a  somewhat  higher  price  per  head.  There  is  more 
competition  for  the  sheep.  Wool  from  this  section  also  averages 
slightly  higher  in  price  than  the  Santa  Cruz  clip,  but  owing  .to  the 
larger  mutton  receipts  wool  sales  furnish  only  75  per  cent  of  the 
total  flock  receipts  as  against  78  per  cent  in  columns  4  and  5.  But 
owing  to  the  fact  that  total  expenses  per  sheep  shorn  are  somewhat 
greater,  this  slight  decrease  in  the  proportion  of  expenses  to  wool 
results  in  practically  the  same  charge  per  pound  of  wool — 25  J  cents 
as  against  24.9  cents.  This  is  due  to  the  close  similarity  in  type  of 
sheep  kept  and  in  methods  of  production. 

Column  7  presents  the  same  facts  for  crossbred  sheep  in  Corrientes 
and  Entre  Rios.  Efficiency  of  herders  is  about  the  same  as  in  the  La 
Pampa  section,  but  there  is  greater  loss  from  disease,  and  the  labor 

8  Paper  pesos  worth  42.5  cents  in  United  States  currency  at  par  exchange. 


20  SHEEP   AND   WOOL  PRODUCTION   IN   ARGENTINA. 

cost  is  slightly  higher,  as  an  extra  man  is  needed  for  6,000  ewes  and 
their  increase.  Since  there  is  more  competition  in  this  section  than 
in  La  Pampa  between  sheep  raising  and  crop  production,  the  land 
rental  per  sheep  shorn  is  considerably  larger;  it  averages  about  2-J 
pesos  per  head — $1.06  in  United  States  currency  at  par  exchange  as 
against  nearly  80  cents  in  La  Pampa.  This  heavier  rental  causes  a 
considerable  increase  in  joint  expenses.  Although  lower  shipping 
costs  give  lower  charges  incurred  directly  for  wool,  the  total  flock 
expenses  are  considerably  higher  because  of  the  land  rent. 

A  higher  average  price  for  the  smaller  number  of  sheep  sold  gives 
virtually  the  same  receipts  from  mutton  sales  as  shown  in  column  6. 
The  wool  sells  for  much  more  per  pound,  owing  to  superior  quality 
and  condition,  but  the  fleeces  average  much  lighter,  and  wool  receipts 
total  considerably  less  than, in  the  La  Pampa  district.  Total  flock  re- 
ceipts therefore  are  smaller  in  column  7,  as  are  total  receipts  per 
head  of  sheep  shorn.  Owing  to  the  higher  land  rental,  expenses  per 
head  are  much  greater,  and  net  profit  per  head  much  less  than  in 
column  6.  Smaller  receipts  from  wool  sales  make  mutton  more  im- 
portant in  total  flock  receipts  than  in  preceding  columns,  but  the 
lighter  clip  results  in  a  much  higher  charge  per  pound.  The  higher 
price  per  pound  gives  a  profit  practically  as  large  as  in  any  other 
section,  but  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  shepherds  that  sheep  production 
in  Corrientes  and  Entre  Rios  is  less  remunerative  than  elsewhere  in 
northeastern  Argentina,  Sheep  are  sure  to  decline  in  these  two  Prov- 
inces ;  they  persist  mainly  because  tillage  has  been  relatively  slow  in 
development,  much  of  the  land  is  less  well  adapted  to  alfalfa  than  in 
Buenos  Aires,  and  fine  grasses  have  not  yet  secured  a  foothold  on  a 
large  part  of  this  soil. 

The  last  three  columns  present  typical  cost  data  for  the  Province 
of  Buenos  Aires.  Under  the  first  system  shown  the  lambs  are  sold 
as  long  yearlings,  just  as  in  other  cross-breeding  areas,  but  75  per 
cent  of  lambs  are  weaned  per  100  ewes.  The  chief  difference  between 
thes  costs  shown  in  column  8  and  those  of  earlier  columns  is  the 
higher  land  rent,  which  is  charged  at  3  pesos  per  sheep  shorn,  or 
$1.275  in  United  States  currency  at  par  exchange.  Owing  to  the 
larger  percentage  of  yearlings  sold  at  a  higher  price  than  elsewhere — 
partly  because  of  greater  competition  between  buyers  but  mainly 
because  of  greater  weight — receipts  from  sales  of  mutton  constitute 
30  per  cent  of  total  flock  receipts.  The  result  is  a  charge  per  pound 
of  wool  of  26.7  cents,  which  compares  very  favorably  with  the  cost 
in  other  regions  despite  higher  operating  costs.  Total  profit  per 
head  of  sheep  shorn  is  higher  than  in  any  other  section,  but  is  sur- 
passed by  operators  who  f  ollow  the  system  shown  in  column  9. 

Under  this  system  the  lambs  are  sold  at  six  to  eight  months  of  age. 
Mutton  receipts  per  sheep  shorn  surpass  such  income  in  other  col- 


SHEEP   AND   WOOL  PRODUCTION    IN    ARCKXTINA.  21 

umns  and  form  over  35  per  cent  of  total  flock  receipts  despite  the 
very  high  wool  prices  of  the  war  years.  Totai  receipts  per  head 
shorn,  as  well  as  total  expenses  and  profit,  likewise  are  considerably 
higher.  The  charge  per  pound  of  wool  varies  little  from  most  other 
columns  because  the  higher  expense  per  head  shorn  largely  offsets 
the  greater  percentage  of  receipts  from  mutton. 

The  last  column  presents  data  for  a  careless  type  of  management 
which  is  condemned  by  most  producers  in  Argentina.  A  consider- 
able number  of  sheep  are  kept  in  farm  flocks  incidental  to  other  enter- 
prises. With  proper  care  net  returns  from  such  flocks  would  be  as 
high  or  higher  than  under  any  other  system;  the  effective  return 
would  considerably  surpass  that  in  other  types  of  management  be- 
cause of  the  incidental  nature  of  the  flock.  But  many  such  flocks  are 
kept  by  men  who  largely  neglect  their  sheep.  The  animals  are  badly 
infested  with  scab,  the  wool  is  usually  very  burry,  and  from  both 
causes  the  clip  sells  for  much  less  per  pound  than  it  otherwise  would 
bring.  The  flocks  also  are  infested  with  stomach  worms,  and  not 
over  40  per  cent  of  lambs  are  weaned  per  100  ewes.  Producers  of 
these  flocks  often  sell  their  lambs  at  six  to  eight  months  of  age,  but 
the  number  sold  is  so  small  that  wool  sales  furnish  over  80  per  cent 
of  the  total  flock  receipts.  Flock  expenses  are  so  low  that  the  charge 
per  pound  of  wool  is  not  greatly  above  that  in  other  columns,  but 
the  profit  per  pound  is  much  lower  than  elsewhere,  as  is  the  profit 
per  head  of  sheep  shorn. 

The  a  vein  op  cost  per  pound  of  Argentine  wool  for  1917-18  and 
1918-11)  \va<  27.M5  cents.  The  sale  price  averaged  approximately 
38.88  cents.  The  average  cost  in  1919-20  was  practically  the  same, 
but  a  large  par',  of  the  wool  clip,  especially  the  coarser  grades,  sold 
for  much  less — in  fa<!t,  far  below  the  cost  of  production.  The  same 
was  true  of  the  1920-21  clip;  prevailing  prices  indicate  that  substan- 
tially the  same  will  be  true  of  at  least  coarse  crossbreds  in  the  clip 
now  being  shorn  in  Argentina.  The  sheepmen  in  that  country  are 
especially  unfortunate  in  that  the  bulk  of  their  clip  is  composed  of 
grades  of  which  there  appears  to  be  a  continuing  world  surplus. 

That  the  bulk  of  the  wool  should  be  growTn  in  Argentina  at  so 
small  a  variation  in  price  per  pound  is  not  surprising  if  it  be  remem- 
bered that  each  column  in  this  table  virtually  represents  an  average 
for  that  region  or  that  particular  type  of  management.  Variations 
between  individual  ranches  therefore  do  not  appear.  Moreover,  in 
Argentina  sheep,  like  cattle,  are  kept  on  a  year-round  grazing 
basis.  No  dry  feed  is  given,  except  occasionally  to  stud  flocks,  which 
are  not  considered  in  this  table.  There  being  no  expense  for  feed, 
one  very  important  factor  making  for  a  wider  cost  variation  is  re- 
moved. Land  rental  is  based  on  grazing  value,  which  eliminates 
speculative  valuations  and  their  effect  on  costs.  Relative  to  body 


22  SHEEP   AND   WOOL   PRODUCTION    IN   ARGENTINA. 

weight,  there  is  little  difference  in  grazing  charge  per  head  of  sheep 
except  when  land  is'leased  from  the  State.  Furthermore,  during  the 
war  years,  Argentina  possessed  the  only  open  market  in  the  world 
for  wools  urgently  needed  for  military  uses.  The  bulk  of  the  Argen- 
tine clip  is  composed  of  such  wools,6  which  in  general  commanded  a 
substantial  price  premium  over  most  of  the  merino  wools  produced. 
The  higher  price  which  they  brought  was  due  in  part  to  their  superior 
condition.  They  were  grown  on  crossbred  sheep,  run  on  higher 
priced  lands;  in  general  the  higher  the  cost  of  operation  the  heavier 
the  fleece  per  sheep  and  the  higher  the  price  received  per  pound  of 
wrool.  Crossbred  flocks  normally  would  show  a  much  larger  per- 
centage of  total  receipts  derived  from  mutton  sales  and  a  lower 
charge  per  pound  of  wool,  but  the  factors  mentioned  greatly  lessen 
the  normal  ratio  of  mutton  to  wool  receipts;  they  are  perhaps  more 
important  than  any  others  in  limiting  regional  variations  in  cost  per 
pound  of  wool.  That  this  is  the  case  is  indicated  by  the  wide  range 
in  expenses,  receipts,  and  profits  per  head  of  sheep  shorn.  The  only 
striking  difference  in  the  cost  per  pound  occurs  in  Corrientes  and 
Entre  Rios,  where  peculiar  conditions  apply;  much  of  the  wool  in 
those  Provinces  seems  to  be  washed  prior  to  sale.  This,  apart  from 
generally  superior  quality  and  condition,  results  in  a  higher  cost  per 
pound  as  well  as  a  higher  price. 

The  estimated  cost  per  pound  for  Argentine  farm  and  range- 
grown  wools  averaged  27.35  cents.  The  Tariff  Commission  found 
the  average  cost  of  range-grown  woods  in  the  United  States 
during  the  same  period  to  be  45  cents.7  When  transported  and 
sold  in  Boston  the  charge  per  pound  on  these  domestic  wools  aver- 
aged approximately  50  'cents,  including  grading  and  about  three 
months'  storage.  When  these  additional  charges  were  added  to  the 
average  sale  price  at  range  points  the  domestic  wools  averaged  about 
58}  cents  in  Boston.  The  foregoing  Argentine  figure,  however,  per- 
tains to  the  Argentine  clip  as  sold  to  exporters  or  their  agents  for 
account  of  the  grower.  Transportation  to  the  United  States  is  an 
additional  expense,  every  item  of  which  was  greatly  magnified  by 
war  conditions. 

Most  of  the  wool  is  regraded  and  skirted8  in  buyers'  warehouses 
before  being  baled  for  export;  the  cost  is  further  added  to  by  ac- 
cumulation of  various  overhead  charges.  In  addition,  freight,  ex- 
port duties,  and  handling  and  selling  charges  in  Boston  must  be 
added. 

6  Over  90  per  cent  of  the  clip  consists  of  wools  of  class  1  ;  probably  85  per  cent  of  these 
wools  are  of  a  high  three-eighths  blood  grade  or  coarser. 

7  In  both  cases  interest  is  included  in  cost. 

8  Less  desirable  parts  around  the  edges  removed  in  addition  to  the  bellies,  britch,  etc. 
See  Appendix  for  a  discussion  of  this  phase  of  wool  handling  in  Argentina. 


SHEEP   AND   WOOL  PRODUCTION   IN   ARGENTINA.  23 

The  following  tabulation  shows  the  average  charge  per  pound 
for  1918,  by  items,  as  furnished  by  one  of  the  heaviest  importers  of 
Argentine  wools : 

Cost,  cents 
per  pound 
Items.  (U.  S.  currency). 

-Classing  or  grading -  0.44 

Baling -1.02 

Fire  insurance r-J —     .07 

Interest •  53 

'Commissions   ami   brokerage • .  70 

Hauling,  shipping,  etc : .29 

Export  duties  and  fees 3.  25 

-  6.30 

Ocean  freight  to  Boston -  3.  60 

Marine    insiiranrc__  .40 

4.  00 

Bankers'   commission •  05 

Boston  selling  oxponse   (avei'Mire) .7-1 

• .80 

Total 11. 10 

The  charge  for  selling  varies  considerably ;  it  depends  on  the  per- 
centage of  the  receipts  sold  "to  arrive"  (only  a  small  charge  for 
overhead  is  made  on  this  account),  and  the  length  of  time  the  rest 
are  held  in  storage  prior  to  sale.  No  dealer's  profit  is  entered  against 
the  wool  in  the  above  tabulation. 

Assuming  the  total  of  the  above  charges  as  typical,  the  average 
cost,  as  estimated,  per  pound  of  Argentine  wool  in  1917-18  and 
1918-19,  from  sheep's  back  through  Boston  wool  loft,  amounted 
approximately  to  38.45  cents.  The  Argentine  growers,  however, 
sold  their  wool  in  Buenos  Aires  at  an  average  price  of  38.33  cents 
per  pound,  or  a  profit  of  about  11  cents;  with  handling,  shipping,  and 
selling  expenses  added  to  the  Buenos  Aires  price,  the  Boston  cost 
averaged  approximately  49.44  cents  per  pound. 

There  has  been  a  pronounced  change  from  war-time  prices  and 
shipping  costs  in  the  past  two  years,  especially  in  the  case  of  wool. 
The  freight  charge  in  1921,  up  to  October,  averaged  0.842  of  a  cent 
per  pound,  or  less  than  one-fourth  as  much  as  in  1918 ;  more  recently, 
owing  to  abnormal  rate  cutting,  the  cost  of  shipping  has  fallen  to 
a  point  where  the  wool  can  be  landed  and  passed  through  the  Boston 
wool  lofts  for  about  one-half  a  cent  per  grease  pound.'  The  Argen- 
tine export  duty  on  wool,  which  averaged  over  3  cents  per  pound 
in  1918.  has  been  removed.  The  total  cost  of  handling,  landing,  and 
selling  Argentine  wool  in  Boston  in  the»fall  of  1921  probably  aver- 
aged between  4  and  5  cents  per  pound,  aside  from  the  duty,  as 
against  between  3  and  4  cents  before  the  war  and  about  11  cents  dur- 
ing 1918  and  1919. 


24  SHEEP   AND   WOOL   PRODUCTION   IN   ARGENTINA. 

Tables  6,  10,  11,  and  12  in  the  appendix,  give  detailed  information 
as  to  the  change  in  price  levels.  Table  6,  prepared  by  one  of  the 
largest  Argentine  wool  firms,  presents  the  pre-war  average  price  re- 
ceived by  estancieros,  the  price  during  the  high-cost  period,  and 
subsequently.  Table  10  gives  December  average  prices  in  London 
over  a  longer  period  of  years  for  a  considerable  range  of  standard 
wools.  Table  11,  giving  Boston  prices  by  months  for  domestic  wools 
during  the  past  three  years,  shows  the  extreme  drop  during  the 
period  of  market  stagnation,  and  the  recent  rise.  Table  12  con- 
trasts clean  landed  cost  (i.  e.  investment  in  scoured  content  by 
dealers)  in  Boston  for  February,  1921,  and  February,  1922,  for  cer- 
tain grades  of  imported  wools  and  the  domestic  grades  with  which 
they  more  closely  compete. 


APPENDIX. 


The  amount  of  grading  done  depends  on  the  way  the  wool  is  put 
up  on  the  estancia,  the  condition  of  the  wool,  the  buyer,  and  his  client 
or  principal  abroad.  In  Argentina  the  prevailing  practice  is  to  tie 
the  legs  of  the  sheep  before  shearing.  This  necessitates  separate  re- 
moval of  the  belly  wool,  but  the  bellies  may  or  may  not  be  sacked 
separately  from  the  rest  of  the  fleece.  Dung  (tag)  locks  and  britch 
wool  often  are  not  always  removed  at  the  ranch.  With  the  exception 
of  wools  grown  in  the  extreme  south  and  usually  shipped  direct 
to  England,  virtually  all  the  wool  therefore  has  to  be  graded  or 
"  thrown  "  before  it  is  baled  in  the  warehouse  of  the  buyer.  Bellies, 
britch,  and  tags  are  removed,  and  considerable  skirting  is  usually 
done. 

There  is  great  variation  in  the  amount  of  this  skirting  and  classing.1 
Individual  lots  of  wool  require  far  more  than  others,  particularly 
when  sound  and  well  grown  but  with  considerable  burr  on  the  skirts. 
Some  dealers  have  occasional  special  outlets  for  different  sorts  and 
skirt  with  that  in  mind.  Others  have  orders  for  a  number  of  special 
lines  of  wool  which  require  very  close  grading  to  prevent  only  very 
minor  variations  from  the  quality  desired  in  a  given  order.  Still 
others  skirt  and  class  with  both  these  objects  in  view.  Accordingly 
"  an  individual  lot  of  wool  may  be  thrown  into  3  main  grades  and  1 
offsort " ; 2  a  corresponding  lo't  in  another  warehouse  "  may  be  thrown 
into  12  main  grades  and  15  offsorts.'' 2  The  offsorts  consist  of  bellies, 
britch,  pieces,  broken  fleeces,  stained  parts,  scabby,  burry,  dead,  rams7 
wool,  and  all  ununiform  wools. 

The  amount  of  wool  removed  in  bellies,  skirts,  etc.,  varies  as  widely 
as  do  the  classes  made  in  different  warehouses.  Occasionally  as  high 
as  50  per  cent  of  the  fleece  is  removed  from  well-grown  coarse  cross- 
brecls  to  fill  out  an  order  for  superior  fiber  for  Xorth  American  buy-  ( 
ers.  The  clean  yield  of  the  fleece  wool  then  may  be  raised  by  12  per 
cent  from  the  condition  as  shorn  from  the  sheep.  This  is  quite  excep- 
tional, however.  At  the  other  extreme  is  the  removal  of  sometimes 
only  about  8  per  cent  of  bellies  from  certain  types  of  fine  or  fine 
crossbred  fleeces. 

1  Skirting  refers  to  removal  of  the  less  desirable  parts  around  the  edges  in  addition  to 
the  bellies,  britch,  etc.  Classing  in  general  practice  refers  to  a  much  more  detailed 
grading  on  quality  lines  than  prevails  in  the  United  States.  See  The  Wool-Growing  In- 
dustry, U.  S.  Tariff  Commission,  1921,  p.  230. 

-  Statomont  of  R.  M.  Pitt  &  Co.  and  C.  Altgelt  &  Co.,  Buenos  Aires. 

25 


26  SHEEP   AXI)   AVOOL   PRODUCTION    IN    ARGENTINA. 

Wools  exported  to  Europe  are  generally  less  closely  skirted  than 
those  sent  to  the  United  States.  Moreover,  North  American  buyers 
have  usually  sought  out  the  most  desirable,  light-shrinking  wools, 
practically  free  from  defect.  These  are  spoken  of  as  "  supers ''  or 
"  superiors."  Frequently  only  bellies  are  removed  from  such  wools 
when  sent  to  Europe,  but  usually  about  20  to  25  per  cent  of  bellies, 
britch,  and  skirtings  are  removed  when  sent  to  the  United  States. 
Practically  the  only  exceptions  are  in  the  case  of  very  light  shrink- 
ing merino  and  fine  crossbreds  from  the  Corrientes  area,  from  which 
up  to  about  15  per  cent  of  bellies  and  britch  are  taken,  and  during 
recent  years  certain  very  heavy  shrinking  fine  wools  from  the  Chu- 
but  region.  The  latter  often  contain  so  much  dirt  evenly  distributed 
through  the  entire  fleece  that  it  does  not  pay  to  remove  much  more 
than  the  belly  and  britch  wool.  Prior  to  the  tariff  act  of  1913  these 
wools  could  not  profitably  be  imported  into  the  United  States.  When 
more  than  25  per  cent  of  skirts,  etc.,  are  removed  from  wools  shipped 
to  North  America  it  usually  means  that  a  lot  which  contains  con- 
siderable burr  is  sufficiently  desirable  in  other  respects  to  make  deep 
skirting  profitable  to  secure  the  super  content. 

In  connection  with  the  foregoing,  Table  4  may  be  of  interest.  It 
gives  the  clean  yield  before  and  after  skirting,  by  grades  and  by 
provinces,  and  details  concerning  different  degrees  of  skirting.  This 
table  is  presented  for  its  suggestive  value  with  reference  to  Argentine 
wool  handling.  See  also  Table  5  for  wool  prices  at  the  ranch  during 
the  war  years,  and  Tables  6  and  7  for  the  distribution  of  Argentine 
sheep  and  wool  by  provinces. 

Table  4  is  based  on  data  supplied  by  one  of  the  largest  native  firms 
in  Argentina  and  by  a  North  American  firm  which  is  one  of  the 
heaviest  shippers  of  South  American  wools  to  the  United  States. 
Column  6  is  based  on  data  secured  from  a  North  American  who  is 
perhaps  the  largest  individual  buyer  of  superior  wools  in  Argentina.8 
It  is  interesting  to  note  that  this  column,  which  deals  solely  with 
superior  wools,  varies  but  little  from  column  5,  which  deals  pri- 
marily with  supers,  but  also  comprises  some  less  desirable  wools 
heavily  skirted  for  shipment  to  the  United  States. 

Column  1  gives  the  estimated  yield  for  the  bulk  of  the  clip  as 
removed  from  the  sheep,  i.  e.,  not  specially  selected  for  high  yield. 
Column  2  refers  to  the  same  wool  with  bellies  removed ;  with  10  to 
12  per  cent  of  the  bellies  and  britch  out,  the  yield  of  the  fleece  is 
raised  about  1-J  to  2  per  cent.  Column  3  gives  corresponding  yields, 
with  16  to  22  per  cent  of  bellies  and  skirts  removed,  and  column 
4  presents  the  clean  yield  with  the  usual  maximum  of  skirting  done. 
As  already  noted,  columns  5  and  6  refer  primarily  to  wools  of 

3  C.  Altgelt  &  Co.  and  R.  M.  Pitt  &  Co.,  of  Buenos  Aires,  and  Mr.  James  Cook,  of  Francis 
Willey  &  Co.,  Boston,  Mass. 


SHEEP   AND   WOOL   PRODUCTION   IN   ARGENTINA. 


27 


superior  growth  and  condition.  The  next  column  gives  the  clean 
yield  of  different  grades  of  lamb's  wool;  the  last  two  refer  to  the 
yield  of  bellies  and  pieces  skirted  from  fleeces  of  corresponding 
grades. 

TABLE  4. — Clean  yields  of  Argentine  wools?  by  provinces. 


Province. 

Grade. 

(1) 

Bellies 
in,  un- 
skirted. 

(2) 

Bellies 
out,* 
un- 
skirted. 

(3) 

Bellies 
out,* 
skirted. 

(4) 

Bellies 
out,* 
heavilv 
skirted. 

(5) 

Heavily 
skirt- 
ed,* for 
United 
States. 

(6) 

Super 
wools, 
skirt- 
ed," for 
United 
States. 

(7) 
Lambs. 

(8) 
Bellies. 

(9) 

Skirt- 
ings 
and 
pieces. 

Corrientes  

Merino  

Per  ct. 
40 

Per  ct. 
41 

Per  ct. 
42-43 

Per  ct. 
44-15 

Pcrct 
47-48 

Per  ct. 

48 

Per  ct. 

48 

Per  ct. 
34 

Per  ct. 
37 

No  1 

49 

50 

51-52 

53-54 

56 

60 

37 

40 

No.  2.... 

53 

54-55 

55-56 

57-58 

61 

63 

58 

40 

43 

No  3 

57 

58-59 

60-61 

62-63 

64 

66 

43 

46 

Entre  Rios 

•  Merino  

39 

40 

41-42 

43-44 

49 

47 

47 

35 

38 

No  1 

47 

48 

49-50 

51-52 

55 

58 

38 

41 

No  2 

51 

52-53 

53-54 

55-56 

59 

61 

57 

41 

44 

No  3 

55 

56-57 

57^58 

59-60 

63 

64 

43 

47 

Merino 

33 

34 

35-36 

37-38 

41 

38 

27 

30 

No  1 

39 

40 

41-42 

43-14 

46 

30 

93 

No.  2 

43 

44-45 

45-46 

47-48 

51 

53 

33 

36 

No  3 

48 

49-50 

51-52 

55-56 

57 

36 

39 

No  4 

55 

56-57 

58-59 

61-62 

62 

60 

38 

42 

35 

36 

37-38 

39-40 

44 

43 

31 

34 

No  1 

43 

44-45 

45—16 

47-48 

50 

34 

38 

No.  2  

47 

48^9 

49-50 

51-52 

55 

60 

55 

37 

42 

No  3 

54 

55-56 

56-57 

58-59 

62 

65 

40 

46 

No  4 

62 

63-64 

65-66 

68-69 

70 

68 

42 

50 

No.  5  .. 

66 

67-68 

69-70 

72-73 

74 

71 

65 

44 

55 

No  6 

68 

69  70 

71  72 

74-75 

75 

75 

46 

60 

Chubut  and  Rio 
Negro 

Merino  
No  1 

29 
33 

30 
34 

31-32 
35-38 

33-34 
37-38 

35 
39 

31 

33 

22 
24 

25 

28 

No.  2...:.. 
No  3 

36 
42 

37-38 
43-44 

38-39 
44-45 

40-42 

46-48 

44 
50 

45 

27 
31 

31 

34 

Santa  Cruz  

Merino  
No  1 

35 
39 

36 
40 

37-38 
41-12 

39-40 
43—14 

42 

46 

36 
46 

42 

26 
30 

30 
35 

No!  2!""! 
No  3 

43 
49 

44-45 
50-51 

45^6 
51-52 

47-48 
53-54 

50 
56 

52 
58 

50 

33 

36 

38 
41 

Punta  Arenas... 

No.  4  

Merino.  .  . 
No  1 

54 

40 
44 

55-56 

41 

45-46 

56-57 

42-43 

46-47 

59-60 

44-45 
48-49 

61 

47 
51 

62 

50 
55 

60 
44 

40 

28 
32 

45 

32 
36 

No.  2  
No.  3... 
No.  4  

49 
54 
60 

50-51 
55-56 
61-62 

51-52 

56-57 
63-64 

53-54 
58-59 
65-66 

55 
61 

66 

60 
64 

67 

52 
""62" 

35 

38 
42 

40 
44 
47 

1  Slightly  burry  or  "top  making,"  i.  < 

out  than  do  heavily  skirted  supers  for  United  States  trade.  Carbonizing  wools  yield  15  to  20  per  cent 
less  than  heavily  skirted  supers.  Second  clips  yield  about  same  with  bellies  out  as  average  to  good  wools 
yield  with  bellies  in.  The  "clean  yield"  represents  the  percentage  of  total  grease  wool,  as  shorn  from  the 
sheep,  which  is  left  after  grease  and  dirt  are  scoured  out  and  other  foreign  matter  is  removed. 

2  From  8  to  12  per  cent  of  bellies  removed,  the  lower  percentage  more  often  from  merino. 

3  From  16  to  22  per  cent  of  bellies  and  skirtings  removed. 

4  From  25  to  35  per  cent  of  bellies  and  skirtings  removed. 

6  From  20  to  30  per  cent  of  bellies  and  skirtings  removed  from  superior  wools  or  35  to  as  high  as  45  or  50 
Per  cent  from  certain  qualities  to  get  super  content  for  United  States  trade. 

a  Superior  wools  purchased  for  United  States  trade,  11  to  14  per  cent  bellies  and  pieces  removed  from 
Corrientes  wools,  11  to  16  per  cent  from  Entre  Rios,  16  to  24  per  cent  from  Buenos  Aires,  8  to  10  per  cent 
from  Chubut  and  Rio  Negro,  also  at  times  from  Santa  Cruz  and  Punta  Arenas  wools. 


28 


SHEEP   AND    WOOL   PRODUCTION    IX   ARGENTINA. 


TABLE  5. — Price  of  Ari/cntnic  irools  to  ranchers  (cxta)icicrox)   according/  t< 
district  irhcre  grown.  »' 

[Bellies  and  la  nbs  included;  super  to  good  wools  practically  free  from  defect.] 


District  where  grown. 

Grade. 

Percent- 
age of 
clip  in 
each 
grade. 

Average  price. 

Prewar 
average 
price, 
1912-1915. 

1917-18 

1918-19 

1919-20 

1920-21 

Corrientes 

Merino  
No.  1  
No.  2  
No.  3  

Merino... 
No.  1  
No.  2  
No.  3  

Merino... 
No.  1.... 
No.  2  
No.  3.... 
No.  4  

Merino.  .  . 
No.  1  
No.  2  
No.  3  
No.  4  
No.  5  
No.  6  

Merino... 
No.  1  
No.  2  
No.  3  

Merino... 
No.l  
No.  2  
•No.  3  
No.  4  

Merino  .  .  . 
No.l...... 
No.  2  
No.  3  
No.  4  

10 
40 
40 
10 

10 
40 
40 
10 

20 
20 
40 
15 
5 

2 
3 
5 
10 
30 
45 
5 

70 
17 
10 
3 

10 
20 
35 
30 
5 

5 
15 
30 
40 
10 

Per  10  kilos  in  paper  pesos.1 

25 
30 
30 

27 

24 
29 
29 
26 

23 

24 
24 
22 

18 

27 
30 
30 
27 
26 
26 
26 

16 
18 
18 
15 

17 
20 

20 
18 
15 

18 
22 
22 
20 
17 

23 
27 
27 
24 

22 
26 
26 
24 

17 
18 
18 
15 
13 

18 
21 
21 
16 
13 
13 
13 

11 
12 
12 
10 

15 
18 
18 
16 
14 

17 
20 

20 

18 
16 

20 
24 
24 
21 

19 
23 
23 
21 

21 
27 
22 
19 
17 

17 
20 
20 
17 
11 
11 
11 

17 
19 
19 
16 

18 
19 

}? 

15 

20 
21 
21 
19 
17 

8 
11 
11 

7 

8 
10 
10 
6 

6 
5 
5 
5 

5 
4 
4 
3 

5 
4 
4 
3 

2 

7 
6 
6 
5 
4 

10 
10 
12 
9 

9 
11 
11 

8 

7 
9 
9 
7 
5 

12 
11 
11 
10 
9 
9 
9 

5 

7 
7 
5 

7 
9 
9 
8 
5 

9 
11 
11 
10 

8 

E  litre  Rios 

La  Pampa 

• 
Buenos  Aires  .  . 

Chubut  and  Rio  Negro.    . 

Santa  Cruz  

Punta  Arenas  

^'Argentine  paper  pesos  (the  peso  is  valued  at  42.5  cents,  United  States  currency  at  par  exchange),  as 
received  by  the  estanciero  on  his  farm  for  the  bulk  of  his  clip,  including  bellies  and  lambs. 

General.— Corrientes  wools  are  almost  all  superiors  and  nearly  free  from  burrs  and  defects.  Entre  Rios 
wools  are  less  superior  and  contain  some  burr. 

Ten  per  cent  of  Buenos  Aires  wools  are  superior,  20  per  cent  nice,  65  per  cent  good  average,  and  5  per  cent 
inferior  in  quality. 

La  Pampa,  Chubut,  Rio  Negro,  Santa  Cruz,  and  Punta  Arenas  wools  are  quite  free  from  burrs. 

The  distribution  of  Argentine  wool  production  throughout  the  several  districts  is  estimated  as  follows: 
Corrientes  and  Entre  Rios  7  per  cent  of  the  clip,  La  Pampa  10  per  cent,  Buenos  Aires  60  per  cent,  Chubut 
and  Rio  Negro  15  per  cent,  Santa  Cruz  8  per  cent.  Those  of  Punta  Arenas  districts  are  largely  Chilean  and 
are  nearly  all  shipped  direct  to  England. 

The  clips  of  1912-13  to  1920-21  inclusive  are  as  follows:  312,000  bales,  306,000  bales,  316,000  bales,  330,000 
bales,  350,000  bales,  355,000  bales,  353,000  bales,  365,000  bales,  345,000  (bale  of  430  kilos  net  or  950  pounds). 
The  percentage  of  rejects  for  burry,  scabby,  dead,  etc.  is  from  2  to  5  on  the  average  for  the  clip.  The  dis- 
count for  these  inferior  or  defective  wools  is  10  per  cent. 

The  "  average  price"  is  understood  as  the  price  at  which  the  bulk  of  the  wools  sold  for  in  each  year. 
Wools  sold  at  country  points  pay  a  brokerage  of  1  per  cent.  On  the  average,  commission  for  sale  in  the 
market  is  about  2  per  cent  for  large  lots. 


SHEEP   AXD   WOOL  PRODUCTION   IX   ARGENTINA. 


29 


TABLE  6. — Number  of  slicep  in  Argentina,  1918. 
[Estimates  of  Argentine  Department  of  Agriculture.] 


Number. 

Per 
cent. 

Number. 

Per 
cent. 

19  051  462 

42.5 

14.  Santa  Fe... 

594  000 

1.2 

2.  Entre  Rios 

4,  534,  000 

10.1 

15.  Salta  

338,  590 

.8 

3   Santa.  Cruz 

4  160  516 

9.3 

16.  Mendoza  

314,  746 

.7 

4    Rio  Negro 

2  963  000 

6.6 

17.  Catamarca. 

188  714 

.4 

5.  Corrientes 

2  470.320 

5.5 

18.  Tucuman  

135,  563 

.3 

6   La  Pampa 

2  417  000 

5.4 

19.  La  Rioja  

98.  790 

.2 

7.  Chubut 

2,  168,  000 

4.8 

20.  Los  Andes  

88,784 

.  19 

8.  Cordoba 

1  512,177 

3.4 

21.  San  Juan  

68,468 

.15 

840  005 

1.9 

22.  Formosa  

34,850 

.'08 

10   Tierra  del  Fuego 

829  050 

1  8 

23.  Chaco  . 

31  772 

07 

778  704 

1  7 

24   Misiones 

13  484 

03 

621  '  202 

1  4 

13.  Jujuv 

600,  081 

1.3 

Total  

44,855,000 

100.0 

TABLE  7. — Distribution  of  Argentine  wool  clip,  by  Provinces,  1914-  and  1917. 


Province  or  region. 

Number  of  sheep 
(000  omitted). 

Percentage  of  total 
clip  shorn. 

1914 

1917 

19,800 
6,700 
2,000 
1,300 

1,660 
2,400 
3,200 
1,000 
2,700 
5.540 
780 
160 

1914 

1917 

'Buenos  Aires.  .  .                           ...         

18,800 
6,700 
2,000 
1,300 

1,660 
2,000 
2,800 
800 
2,300 
3,940 
780 
160 

51.6 
12.3 
4.4 

2.1 

2.4 
4.4 
6.1 
1.8 
4.2 
8.7 
1.7 
.3 

49.9 
11.2 
4.0 
2.0 

2.2 
4.8 
6.4 
2.0 
4.5 
11.1 
1.6 
.3 

»  Entre  Rios  and  Corrientes 

•  Santa  Fe  and  Cordoba     .              .         

San  Luis  and  Santiago  del  Estero 

'Tucuman,  Mendoza,  San  Juan,  La  Rioja,  Catamarca,  Salta, 
Jujuy 

Chubut  

«.Rio  Negro 

Neuquen.  .  .                                                     .         

-La  Pampa 

-•Santa  Cruz. 

Tierra  del  Fuego 

Chaco,  Formosa,  Los  Andes,  Misiones 

Total  

43,  240 

47,  240 

100.0 

100.0 

Estimated  average  clip  per  head,  3.267  kilograms  (7.2  pounds). 

TABLE  8. — Cost  of  shipment  of  certain  agricultural  comoindities,  Argentina,  1921. 
[Prepared  by  Buenos  Aires  &  Pacific  Railway  Co.,  under  direction  of  Mr.  Harry  Usher,  general  manager.] 

a.  WOOL. 
[Per  1,000  kilos.] 


Percentage 

Length  of 
haul.i 

Value  of 
article. 

Freight. 

of  value 
I    of  article 
represented 

in  freight. 

Kilometers. 

Pesos.1 

Pesos.9 

100 

450.00 

28.13 

6 

200 

450.00 

43.75 

10 

300 

450.00 

56.25 

13 

400 

450.00 

68.  75 

15 

500 

450.00 

81.25 

18 

600 

450.00 

90.63 

20 

700 

450.00 

100.00 

22 

800 

450.00 

109.38 

24 

900 

450.00 

118.  75 

26 

1,000 

450.00 

128.  13 

28 

1,100 

450.00 

135.63 

30 

1,200 

450.00 

141.  25 

31 

*  Average  distance  of  haul,  130  kilometers  (86  miles). 
Statistical  average  is  due  to  receipts  from  other  roads; 
actual  average  is  the  same  as  for  sheep. 

2  A  paper  peso  is  worth  42J  cents  in  United  States 
money  at  par  exchange. 

3  Value  and  relation  of  freight  to  value  are  as  of 
Apr.  21,  1921. 


30 


SHEEP   AND   WOOL   PRODUCTION   IX   ARGENTINA. 


TABLES. — Cost  of  shipment  of  cei*tain  agricultural  commodities,  etc. — Contiiiwd, 

6.  FLAXSEED. 
[Per  1,000  kilos.] 


To  Jan.  14,  1921. 

From  Jan.  15,  1921. 

Length  of 
haul. 

Value  of 
article. 

Percentage 
of  value 

Percentage 
of  value 

Tariff. 

of  article 

Tariff. 

of  article 

represented 
in  freight. 

represented 
in  freight. 

Kilometers. 

Pesos. 

Pesos. 

Pesos. 

100 

151.00 

8.13 

5 

9.24 

.6 

200 

151.00 

10.63 

7 

13.  M7 

9 

300 

151.00 

13.13 

9 

15.94 

11 

400 

151.00 

14.88 

10 

18.11 

12 

500 

151.00 

16.63 

11 

20.07 

13 

600 

151.00 

18.13 

12 

21.47 

14 

700 

151.00 

19.13 

13 

22.88 

15 

800 

151.00 

19.88 

13 

24.28 

16 

900 

151.00 

20.63 

14 

25.69 

17 

1.000 

151.00 

21.63 

14 

27.09 

18 

1,100 

151.00 

22.38 

15 

28.01 

19 

1,200 

151.00 

23.13 

15 

28.94 

19 

[Average  distance  of  haul,  375  kilometers  (235  miles).] 

c.  WHEAT. 
[Per  1,000  kilos.] 


[Average  distance  of  haul,  435  kilometers  (272  miles).] 

d.  OATS. 
[Per  1,000  kilos.] 


100 

175.  00 

5.89 

3 

7.11 

4 

200 

175.  00 

8.85 

5 

10.67 

6 

300 

175.  00 

10.19 

6 

12.26 

7 

400 

175.  00 

11.60 

7 

13.92 

8 

500 

175.  00 

12.87 

7 

15.  44 

9 

600 

175.  00 

13.76 

8 

16.52 

9 

700 

175.00 

14.65 

8 

17.60 

10 

800 

175.  00 

15.54 

9 

18.63 

11 

900 

175.00 

16.43 

9 

19.76 

11 

1,000 

175.00 

17.32 

10 

20.84 

•  12 

1,100 

175.  00 

17.91 

10 

21.55 

12 

1  200 

175.00 

18.50 

11 

22.26 

13 

100 

82.50 

5.89 

7        7.11 

9 

200 

82.50 

8.85 

11       10.67 

13 

300 

82.50 

10.19 

12       12.  26 

15 

400 

82.50 

11.60 

14       13.  92 

17 

500 

82.50 

12.87 

16       15.44 

19 

600 

82.50 

13.76 

17       16.52 

20 

700 

82.50 

14.65 

18       17.60 

21 

800 

82.50 

15.  54 

19       18.  68 

23 

900 

82.50 

16.43 

20       19.  76 

24 

1,000 

82.50 

17.32 

21       20.  84 

25 

1,100 

82.50 

17.91 

22       21.  55 

26 

1,200 

82.50 

18.50 

22       22.26 

27 

1         1 

[Average  distance  of  haul,  210  kilometers  (131  miles).] 


SHEEP   AND   WOOL 


UCTION   IK   ARGENTINA. 


31 


TABLES. — Cost  of  shipment  of  certain  agricultural  commodities,  etc. — Continued. 

e.  BARLEY. 
[Per  1,000  kilos.] 


To  Jan.  14,  1921. 

From  Jan.  15,  1921. 

Length  of 
haul. 

Value  of 
article. 

Percentage 
of  value 

Percentage 
of  value 

Tariff. 

of  article 

Tariff. 

of  article 

represented 
in  freight. 

represented 
in  freight. 

Kilometers. 

Pesos. 

Pesos. 

Pesos. 

100 

93.00 

5.89 

6 

7.11 

8 

200 

93.00 

8.85 

10 

10.67 

11 

300 

93.00    i          10.19 

11 

12.26 

13 

400 

93.00 

11.60 

12 

13.32 

15 

500 

93.00 

12.87 

14 

15.44 

17 

600 

93.00 

13.76 

15 

16.52 

18 

700 

93.00 

14.  65 

16 

17.60 

19 

800 

93.00 

lf>.  54 

17 

18.68 

20 

900                  93.00 

16.43 

18 

19.76 

21 

1,000                  93.00              17.32 

.   19 

20.84 

22 

1,100                  93.00              17.91 

19                  21.55                23 

1,200 

93.  00 

18.  50 

20 

22.  26                24 

[Average  distance  of  haul,  290  kilometers  (181  miles).] 

/.  CORN. 
[Per  1,000  kilos.] 


100 

104.00 

5.06 

5 

5.89 

6 

200 

104.00 

7.58 

7 

8.85 

9 

300 

104.00 

8.71 

8 

10.19 

10 

400 

104.00 

9.89 

10 

11.60 

11 

500 

104.00 

10.97 

11 

12.87 

12 

600 

104.  00 

11.72 

11 

13.76 

13 

700 

104.00 

12.47 

12 

14.65 

14 

800 

104.00 

13.22 

13 

15.54 

15 

900 

104.00 

13.97 

13 

16.43 

15 

1,000 

104.00 

14.72 

14 

17.32 

16 

1,100 

104.00 

15.23 

15 

17.91 

17 

1,200 

104.  00 

15.74 

15 

18.50 

18 

[Average  distance  of  haul,  230  kilometers  (144  miles).] 
a.  CATTLE. 


Length 

Freight  per  car 
of  20  head. 

Freight  per 
head. 

Value 

Freight  per 
pound  of  live 
animal  (600 
kilos  =  1,321 
pounds)  . 

Freight  per 
pound  of 
.  dressed  meat 
(750  pounds). 

Percentage  of 
value  of  article 
represented  by 
freight. 

of 

per 

haul. 

head. 

) 

Cur- 
rent 
rate. 

Pro- 
posed 
new 
rate. 

Cur- 
rent 
rate. 

Pro- 
posed 
new 
rate. 

Cur- 
rent 
rate. 

Pro- 
posed 
new 
rate. 

Cur- 
rent 
rate. 

Pro- 
posed 
new 
rate. 

Cur- 
rent 
rate. 

Pro- 
posed 
new 
rate. 

Kilo- 

meters. 

Pesos. 

Pesos.      Pesos,  i  Pesos. 

Pesos. 

Pesos. 

Pesos. 

Pesos. 

Pesos. 

100 

84.40 

116.76  '      4.17 

5.84 

210.  00 

0.003 

0.004 

0.006 

0.008              2 

3 

200 

111.20 

155.68         5.56 

7.78 

210.00 

.004 

.006 

.007 

.010  !           3 

4 

300 

139.  00 

194.60  i      6.95         9.73 

210.00 

.005 

.007 

.009 

.013              3 

5 

400 

158.46 

221.84 

7.92 

11.09 

210.00 

.006 

.008 

.011 

.015              4 

5 

500 

177.92 

249.09 

8.90  1    12.45 

210.00 

.007 

.009 

.012 

.017              4 

6 

600 

194.  60 

272.  44 

9.  73       13.  62 

210.00 

.007 

.010 

.013 

.018              5 

6 

700 

207.  88 

288.  01 

10.39 

14.40 

210.00 

.008 

.011 

.014 

.019              5 

7 

800 

221.  15 

299.  68       11.  05 

14.98 

210.00 

.008 

.011 

.015 

.020              5 

7 

900 

234.43 

311.36 

11.72 

15.57 

210.  00 

.009 

.012 

.016 

.021 

6 

7 

1.000 

247.  71 

326.93  i    12.39 

16.35 

210.  00 

.009 

.012 

.017 

.022 

6 

8 

1,100 

260.99 

338.  60 

13.05 

16-.  93 

210.00 

.010 

.013 

.017 

.023  '            6 

8 

1,200 

274.  26 

350.  28 

13.71 

17.51 

210.00 

.010 

.013 

.018 

.023              7 

8 

(Average  length  of  ha.ul,  400  kilometers  (250  miles);  time  required  for  haul,  24  hours  45  minutes.] 


32 


SHEEP   AXD    WOOL   PRODUCTION    IX    ARGEXTIXA. 


TABLES. — Cost  of  shipment  of  certain  agricultural  commodities,  etc. — Continued, 

h.  SHEEP. 


Freight  per 
car  of  200 

hparl 

Freight  per 
head. 

Freight  per 
pound  of  live 
animal  (55 

Freight  per 
pound  dressed 
meat  (54 

Percentage  of 
value  of  article 
represented  bv 

Length 

,   Value 

kilos).                pounds). 

freight.     ' 

haul. 

Cur- 
rent 
rate. 

Pro- 
posed 
new 
rate. 

Cur- 
rent 
rate. 

Pro- 
posed 
new 
rate. 

head. 

Cur- 
rent 
rate. 

Pro- 
posed 
new 
rate. 

Cur- 
rent 
rate. 

Pro- 
posed 
new 
rate. 

Cur- 
rent 
rate. 

Pro- 
posed 
new 
rate. 

Kilo- 

meters. 

Pesos. 

Pesos. 

Pesos. 

Pesos.      Pesos. 

Pesos.     Pesos,  j  Pesos. 

Pesos. 

100 

83.40 

116.76 

0.42 

0.  58         12.  00 

0.003 

0.005  !    O.OOS 

0.011 

4 

5 

200 

111.20 

155.68 

.56 

.78         12.00 

.005         .006 

.010         .014 

5 

7 

300 

139.00 

194.  60 

.70 

.97 

12.00 

.006         .008 

.013         .018 

6 

8 

400 

158.46 

221.84 

.79 

.11 

12.00 

.007 

.009 

.015 

.021 

7 

9 

500 

177.  92 

249.09 

.89 

.25 

12.00 

.  007         .  010 

.016 

.023 

7 

10 

600 

194.60 

272.  44 

.97 

.  36         12.  00 

.008 

.011 

.  018         .  025 

8 

11 

700 

207.88 

288.  01 

1.04 

.44         12.00 

.009 

.012 

.  019         .  027 

9 

12 

800 

221.  15 

299.68 

1.11 

.50         12.  00 

.009 

.012 

.  021         .  028 

9 

13 

900 

234.43 

311.36 

1.17 

.56         12.00 

.010 

.013 

.022 

.029 

10 

13 

1.000 

247.71 

326.93 

1.24 

.64         12.  00 

.  010         .  014 

.023 

.030 

10 

14 

1,100 

260.99 

338.60 

1.31 

.69  |       12.00 

.011 

.014 

.024 

.031 

11 

14 

1,200 

274.26 

350.28 

1.37 

.75 

12.00 

.011 

.014 

.025 

.032 

11 

15 

[Average  length  of  haul,  400  kilometers  (250  miles)  ;  time  required  for  haul,  24  hour* 
45  minutes.] 

/.  SWINE. 


1 
Freight  per  car  of        Freight  per 
40  head.                   htad. 

Freight  per  kilo, 
of  animal  of  100 
kilos 

Percentage  of 
value  of  article 
represented  by 

freight. 

Length 

of  haul. 

Current 
rate. 

Pro-         rnr 

'-  '  si 

rate.        rate' 

! 

Pro- 
posed 
new 
rate. 

head. 

Cur- 
rent 
rate. 

Pro- 
posed 
new 
rate. 

Cur- 
cent 
rate. 

Pro- 
posed 
new 
rate. 

Kilo- 

meters. 

Pesos. 

Pesos,    i  Peso*. 

Pesos. 

Pesos. 

Pesos. 

Pesos. 

100 

83.40 

116.76        2.09 

2.92 

60.00 

0.021 

0.029 

3 

5 

200 

111.20 

155.  68     i     2.  78 

3.89 

60.00 

.028 

.039 

5 

6 

300         139.  00 

194.  60     !    3.  48 

4.87 

60.00 

.035 

.049 

6 

8 

400 

158.46 

221.84    j    3.96 

5.55 

60.00 

.040 

.056 

7 

9 

500 

177.  92 

249.  09     '     4.  45 

6.23 

60.00 

.  U4,r> 

.062 

7 

10 

600 

194.60 

272.  44    i     4.  87 

6.81 

60.00 

.049 

.068 

8 

11 

700 

207.  88 

288.  01     i    5.  20 

7.20 

60.00 

.  052 

.072 

9 

12 

800 

221.15 

299.68    j    5.53 

7.49 

60.00 

.055 

.075 

9 

12 

900 

234.  43 

311.36    I     5.86 

7.78 

60.00 

.059 

.078 

10 

13 

1,000 

247.71 

326.  93    :    6.  19 

8.17 

60.00 

.062 

.082 

10 

14 

1,100 

260.99 

338.60    |    6.53 

8.47 

60.00 

.065 

.085 

11 

14 

1,200 

274.26 

350.23     1    6.86 

I 

8.76 

60.00 

.069 

.088 

11 

15 

[Average  length  of  haul,  400  kilometers  (250  miles);  time  required  for  haul,  24  hours  45  niinutes.J 


SHEEP  AND   WOOL  PRODUCTION    IN   ARGENTINA. 


33 


TABLE  9. — Trend  of  wool  prices,  London,  1900  to  1921. 

[Pence  per  clean  pound.] 
[Data  from  Schwarts  and  Buchanan,  London.] 


Merinos. 

Da 

tc. 

Port 
Phillip, 
"good." 

Adelaide, 
average. 

Cape, 
short, 
washing. 

Buenos 
Aires, 
average. 

December, 
December, 

1900  
1901  

19* 
21 

17 

18* 

It! 

i? 

December, 

1910  

27} 

25 

22 

20} 

December, 

1911  

26} 

24 

20} 

19 

December, 

1912  

29 

26 

22} 

20* 

December, 

1913 

28} 

25 

221 

21 

July,  1914 

33* 

28 

27} 

23  It 

December, 

1915 

43 

35 

31 

26 

December, 

1916  

65 

57 

48 

39 

April,  1917 

1 

75 

63 

50 

38 

December, 

1919  

138 

108 

97 

6S 

December, 

1920  

65 

40 

34 

2S 

December, 

1921  

45 

33 

30 

23 

Crossbred. 


Australian. 

Superfine. 

Fine. 

Medium. 

Coarse. 

15 

12} 

11} 

W 

16 

11 

g 

(>A 

23 

19} 

16} 

13* 

22 

18 

lf>                 13" 

24                20 

17                  15 

22} 

18} 

15f                14) 

26 

22} 

17                 151 

37 

34 

28 

25 

51 

47 

35 

32 

'® 

2  50} 
70 

»35 

40 

»32 
29 

45 

30 

19 

1  13 

35 

21 

10} 

8* 

1  April,  1919,  the  date  of  the  close  of  London  public  auctions. 

1  Nominal.    As  against  July,  1914.    Merinos  are  about  30  per  cent  higher,  prices  15  per  cant  higher, 
medium  and  coarse  shreds  40  per  cent  lower. 

TABLE  10. — Wholesale  prices  per  pound  of  domestic  wools  in  the  Boston  market. 


Territory,1  fine  staple. 


Territory, }  blood,  combing. 


Momn. 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1919 

1920 

1921             1922 

January.  .  . 

$1.  590 
1.475 
.490 
.575 
.675 
.700 
.775 
.875 
.875 
.875 
.875 
.950 

$2.000 
2.100 
2.100 
2.100 
2.100 
1.875 
1.700 
1.650 
1.575 
1.375 
1.  050 
.950 

$0.825 
.900 
.900 
.900 
.900 
.825 
.830 
.830 
.830 
.830 
.830 
.865 

$0.910 

$1.635 
1.410 
1.435 
1.475 
1.475 
1.600 
1.600 
1.725 
1.775 
1.775 
1.  775 
1.775 

SI.  825 
1.900 
.900 
.900 
.900 
.625 
.500 
.475 
.425 
1.  225 
.945 
.825 

$0.  675 
.775 
.775 
.725 
.725 
.710 
.700 
.700 
.700 
.700 
.700 
.765 

$0.795 

February 

March  

April... 

May 

June  
July.  . 



August 

September  .  .  . 

October 

November  

December  . 

Month. 

Territory,  J  blood,  combing. 

Territory,  J  blood,  combing. 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1919 

1920 

1921 

$0.  425 
.425 
.  465 
.435 
.  435 
.400 
.400 
.390 
.365 
.400 
.400 
.465 

1922 

January 

$1.  275 
1.235 
1.210 
1.  075 
1.115 
1.200 
1.240 
1.350 
1.375 
1.275 
1.270 
1.350 

SI.  350 
1.  350 
1.350 
1.300 
1.300 
1.175 
1.025 
.975 
.925 
.875 
.700 
.600 

$0.  525 
.545 
.555 
.540 
.540 
.500 
.510 
.510 
.525 
.525 
.525 
.560 

$0.600 

SI.  290 
1.060 
1.010 
.975 
.925 
1.035 
1.050 
1.100 
1.125 
1.125 
1.125 
1.  125 

SI.  125 
1.175 
1.175 
1.150 
1.150 
.975 
.875 
.825 
.725 
.  675 
.585 
.500 

$0.  515 

February 

March 

April 

May 



Juno 

July  
\ugust 



September  
October  





November  
December 

1  Territory  wools  are  quoted  on  the  scoured  basis, 
month. 


Prices  are  for  first  wee'k  in  each 


34 


SHEEP   AND   WOOL   PRODUCTION   IN   ARGENTINA. 


TABLE  10. — Wholesale  prices  per  pound  of  domestic  wools  in  the  Boston 
market — Continued. 


Month. 

Territory,1  common  and  braid. 

Territory, 
fine  clothing. 

Territory, 
fine  medium 
clothing. 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1919 

1920 

1919 

1920 

January 

SI.  010 
.710 
.710 
.710 
.710 
.690 
.690 
.690 
.725 
.725 
.725 
.725 

SO.  725 
.725 
.725 
.625 
.625 
.550 
.550 
.550 
.550 
.550 
.210 
.190 

$0.  190 
.190 
.190 
.190 
.215 
.215 
.215 
.215 
.215 
.215 
.215 
.265 

$0.315 

SI.  515 
1.410 
1.390 
1.410 
1.410 
1.425 
1.450 
1.450 
1.450 
1.450 
1.450 
1.650 

11.725 
1.800 
1.800 
1.800 
1.800 
1.550 
1.500 
1.450 
1.275 
1.225 
.8.50 
.700 

SI.  415 
1.390 
1.365 
1.365 
1.365 
1.325 
1.350 
1.350 
1.450 
1.450 
1.450 
1.650 

SI.  650 
1.700 
.700 
.700 
.700 
.475 
.475 
.275 
.075 
.025 
.700 
.575 

February  

March 

April    

Mav 

June  

July 

August    

September  . 

October  

November  ... 

December 

Territory,  fine 
and  fine  me- 
dium clothing. 

1921 

1922 

SO.  575 
.675 
.675 
.675 
.655 
.615 
.615 
.615 
.615 
.625 
.625 
.645 

$0.720 



Month. 

Ohio  and  Pennsylvania  2  fleeces, 
Delaine,  unwashed. 

Ohio  and  Pennsylvania  fleeces, 
J  blood,  combing. 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

January  

$0.655 
.620 
.610 
.625 
.725 
.710 
.810 
.840 
.840 
.830 
.860 
.895 

$0.930 
.985 
.985 
.985 
.985 
.735 
.710 
.700 
,625 
.625 
.550 
.490 

$0.465 
.405 
.410 
.390 
.405 
.375 
.355 
.350 
.340 
.345 
.350 
.365 

$0.405 

$0.  740 
.660 
.660 
.660 
.680 
.680 
.740 
.805 
.805 
.805 
.805 
.840 

$0.  850 
.840 
.840 
.840 
.840 
.710 
-.690 
.690 
.610 
.575 
.470 
.400 

10.340 
.340 
.340 
.330 
.330 
.305 
.300 
.295 
.295 
.295 
.305 
.310 

$0.365 

February 

March 

April 

Mav 

June  .                   .... 

July 



September 

October 

December 

Month. 

Ohio  and   Pennsylvania  fleeces,  f 
blood,  combing. 

Ohio   and   Pennsylvania  feeoes,   \ 
blood,  combing. 

1919 

1920  " 

1921 

1922 

1919            1920 

1921             1»22 

January 

$0.  745 
.660 
.650 
.590 
.610 
.610 
.690 
.720 
.700 
.690 
.675 
.705 

$0.700 
.705 
.700 
.695 
.690 
.610 
.540 
.  515 
.460 
.440 
.385 
.350 

$0.  275 
.290 
.305 
.295 
.295 
.280 
.265 
.255 
.255 
.265 
.265 
.285 

$0.  340 

$0.  790 
.615 
.630 
.570 
.545 
.565 
.660 
.685 
.685 
.670 
.655 
.660 

SO.  660 
.680 
.665 
.665 
.645 
.565 
.490 
.460 
.430 
.405 
.365 
.310 

SO.  255 
.270 
.275 
.280 
.280 
.265 
.255 
.235 
.230 
.242 
.255 
.260 

SO.  315 

February 

\pril 

May 

June 

July 

August 

October  

December 

1  Territory  wools  are  quoted  on  the  scoured  basis.    Prices  are  for  first  week  in  each  month. 
*  Ohio  and  other  wools,  except  Territory,  are  quoted  on  the  greasewool  basis,  i.e.,  in  the  condition  as 
shorn . 


SHEEP   AND   WOOL  PRODUCTION    IN   ARGENTINA. 


35 


TABLE  10. — Wholesale  j>riccs  /XT  pound  of  domestic  irools  i)i  the  Boston 
market — Continued. 


Month. 
January 

Ohio  and  Pennsylvania1  fleeces, 
fine  unwashed  (clothing). 

Ohio  and 

Pennsylvania 
i,  f  ,  i  blood 
'(clothing). 

Ohio  and 
Pennsylvania 
i  blood 
(clothing). 

Ohio  and 
Pennsylvania 
i,  f  blood 
(clothing). 

1919 

$0.565 
.535 
.535 
.530 
.535 
.  585 
.  fi!5 
.625 
.690 
.690 
.690 
.710 

1920 

$0.  710 
.740 
.  740 
.750 
.750 
.635 
.610 
.610 
.525 
.545 
.410 
.365 

1921 

$0.  305 
.305 
.320 
.325 
.310 
.295 
.275 
.285 
.285 
.285 
.285 
.295 

1922 
$0.  335 

1919 

$0.  575 
.575 
.560 
.510 
.570 
.570 
.595 
.595 
.595 
.595 
.595 
.610 

1920 

$0.  610 
.610 
.610 
.640 
.640 
.535 
.532 
.532 
.475 
.475 
.352 
.327 

1921 

$0.  255 
.255 
.255 
.255 
.285 
.265 
.255 
.235 
.245 
.245 
.  245 
.255 

1922 
$0.  295 

1921 

$0.  235 
.235 

1922 
SO.  255 

March 

.235 

April 

.235 

Mav 

.260 

.245 

July 

.235 

215 



.215 

October  

.215 

215 

.235 

TAKLE  II. — Comparison  of  clean  cost2  at  Boston  of  foreign  and  domestic  wools, 
February,  1921,  and  February,  1922. 

[Detailed  figures,  by  grades,  furnished  by  a  member  of  the  Boston  Wool  Trade,  Mr.  Albert  Elliott,  of 

Jeremiah  Williams  &  Co.] 


'oreign  wools. 


Austral!  in  merino  (70s) 

Cross)  >ri'-l  (5S/60>): 

Sou  Hi  American 

Nc\\  Zealand 

Crossbred: 

So  !  I  h  American  (56s) 

Now  Zealand  (58s) 

Crossbred  (50s): 

South  American 

New  Zealand 

Ciossbred  (46s): 

South  American 

New  Zealand 

Crossbred  (36/40s): 


Competing  with  domestic 
wools. 

Values  as  of  Feb. 
14,  1921. 

Values  as  of  Feb. 
4,  1922. 

Clean 
cost  of 
foreign 
wools, 
c.  i.  f. 
Boston. 
Free. 

Clean 
cost  of 
domestic- 
wools, 
Boston. 
Free. 

80.  753 
.91 

1.025 
.94 

1.07 

.755 
738 

Clean 
cost  of 
foreign 
wools, 
c.  i.  f. 
Boston,3 
without 
duty. 

Clean 
cost  of 
domestic 
wools, 
Boston  3 
without 
duty. 

Tine  medium  Utah,  Nevada, 
and  Idaho. 
Fine  staple  Montana,  Wyom- 
ing, and  Oregon. 
Average  Delaine 

$0.59 
.72 
.79 

$0.  635 
.90 

.84 

$1.00 
1.067 

1.14 
1.07 

1.14 

.90 
.947 

.72 

.73 

.        .  663 
.648 

.43 

.45 

.35 

.358 

Montana  and  Wyoming  fine 
staple. 
Ohio  X  X  Delaine 

.86 
.56 

1.00 
.60 

Ohio  and  Michigan  \  blood  
Territory  i?  blood 

Ohio  and  Michigan  |  blood 

.57 
.562 

.502 
.45 

.33 
.32 

.29 
.27 

.50 

Territory  f  blood  ... 

.55 

.40 
.43 

.32 
.36 

.20 
.24 

Fleece  wool  i  blood  
Territo  y  {  blood 

.48 
.44 

.32 
.32 

.19 
.18 

Fleece  wool  low  -J-  blood  
Territory  low  \-  blood 

Fleece  wool  braid 

Territory  braid  

1  Ohio  and  other  wools,  except  Territory,  are  quoted  on  the  greascwool  basis,  i.  c.  in  the  condition 
as  shorn. 

2  The  "clean  cost,"  c.  i.  f.  Boston,  represents  the  investment  which  the  importer  has  in  the  wools.    It 
is  usually  somewhat  belo»v  the  market  quotations  for  such  wools. 

3  The  duty  is  15  cents  per  grease  pound,  unle^  altered  from  original  condition  as  shorn  from  the  sheep; 
if  so  altered."  the  duty  is  30  cents  per  grease  pound.    This  duty  virtually  prohibits  imports. 


O 


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WILL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN 
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i    11 


LD  21-95m-7,'37 


Photomount 
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Binder 
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Makers 
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PAT.  JAN  21,  1908 


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